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‘Hey Man’ is a personal advice column about guys, by guys. Need help? Email HeyMan@vice.com.
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The new year tends to spike personal expectation around health and fitness: “too much” turkey, the fad diets, detoxing, the themes of January’s doomscroll. Given how the previous 12 months have robbed most of us of our hobbies, it’s very excusable to feel as you do – you’ve been cheated out of maintaining progress and routine on the terms you prefer. If you’re at a stage where you’re just feeling a little more self-conscious each time you walk past the mirror or are missing the endorphin hit, there are lots of good home exercises on YouTube. When I tried to get hench in lockdown one, I got into ATHLEAN-X for strength, and FitnessBlender for cardio. Of course, heavy lifting is a relief that isn’t easily replicated without trying to bench press your fridge-freezer, which – for obvious reasons – could be dangerous. However, there are muscles you could go to town on by doing bodyweight workouts at home. These are: obliques (for real abs), erector spinae (a group of muscles that will make big posture gains when used properly) and forearms (to help you lift more). All these might provide a similar level of That Good Burn to hitting the gym.
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