Home Grown Physique

Though the outdoors beckons you for physical activity, scorching temperatures, humid air, and pesky bugs may shun your efforts. A fitness facility might be a cooler alternative, but fiscal cinching has forced many to toss their gym memberships.

Fortunately you can still get a workout that breaks a sweat without breaking the bank… and all you need are a towel, a chair, and your humble abode.

Abs and shoulders: On a hard-floor surface, put a folded towel under each palm and raise your body into a push-up plank position. Slowly circulate either hand clockwise 6 times, repeating in the other direction. Switch hands. For a cardio burst, double-time your efforts.

Legs and buttocks: Perform lunges, alternating legs. For an added challenge, hold 1-gallon water jugs in each hand. Make sure your knee bends as close to, but not more than, 90 degrees.

Triceps and upper back: Sit with buttocks and hands positioned on the edge of a chair, legs extended out with a slight bend in the knees. Lift your hips off the chair and lower your buttocks slowly past the seat toward the ground, bending your elbows 90 degrees before pushing back up to your starting position. Do 10 reps. For a more advanced approach, hold a weight (or a heavy book) on your lap.