No-Shower-No-Change-of-Clothes Workout

For the ultimate excuse-busting exercise routine, try this easy no-shower-no-change-of-clothes-required workout, courtesy of Good Housekeeping's Drop 5 Pounds: The Small Changes, Big Results Diet.


Start with a 15-minute walk. Afterward, climb stairs for 5 minutes. Then, do just 4 minutes of wall push-ups and chair squats. Finish with a 1-minute stretch.


Excuse-Proof Exercise
It's a total "anytime, anywhere" workout that covers all of the major muscle groups and has a healthy mix of cardio and body building to boot. Best of all, it doesn't require any special equipment or clothes, and you're done in just 25 minutes. Here's Good Housekeeping's breakdown on each step:

• Walk anywhere. Pace the halls, circle the block, or walk in place for 15 minutes. This will get your blood pumping and your metabolism fired up. And, as a bonus, it will burn about 60 calories. 

Here are five ways to turn walking into a lifelong habit.

1. Schedule it. If you treat walking as an automatic "must" on your daily list -- like brushing your teeth or taking your vitamins -- then there's no debate about whether you will or won't do it. Before long, it'll be a rock-solid habit.

2. Get a buddy. Having a friend (human or furry) waiting for you to take a walk gets you out there day after day. Your walking "buddy" doesn't even have to be somebody you see. It can be a pal with whom you check in every day, by phone or online. If your pal doesn't get your daily "I just walked" message, he or she knows to give you a get-going poke. 

3. Add some fun. Dying to play Boggle on your smartphone? Head outdoors or hop on the treadmill, and think up words while you walk. Addicted to recorded romance novels? Listen to them only while you stride along (just don't run into anything when it gets steamy!). Whatever makes walking more fun for you, do it!

4. Keep track. A walking log, a pedometer, even a little notation in your calendar -- it's all good. That's because keeping track of your miles and goals increases your odds of sticking to your plan.

5. Reward yourself. We're all for bribery when it comes to exercise. Give yourself a walking goal of, say, 10 miles per week for a month, or 60 minutes a day for a week -- and if you're successful, treat yourself to a massage or a gotta-see-it movie or a new MP3 player for your walking tunes or recorded books.

• Stair-step it. Climbing stairs for 5 minutes will tone and tighten your leg muscles.
• Push the wall. Stand 2 feet away from the wall, feet shoulder-width apart. While keeping your back straight, place your palms against the wall, and lean your body in for a count of three, then push back for a count of three. Repeat for 2 minutes.
• Pop a squat. Choose a chair that creates a 90-degree angle in your legs when seated. Stand with the chair behind you, feet shoulder-width apart, arms straight out in front of you. Slowly lower yourself into a seated position, sit for a count of three, then stand up slowly. Repeat for 2 minutes.
• Touch down. Stand with your arms straight out at your sides and your feet hip-width apart. Bending at the waist, reach one hand toward the opposite foot. Return to a standing position. Do for 1 minute, alternating sides.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?!

Italian Meatballs

These classic Italian meatballs are made from a combination of ground beef and pork (and veal, if desired), with oregano, red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese, and are dressed in a rich, fresh tomato sauce. Serve over any kind of pasta!

Prep Time:

0 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

SERVES 1

INGREDIENTS

• FOR THE MEATBALLS:
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork (or a combination of pork and veal)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• Dried red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE:
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 stalk celery, minced
• 1 small carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 28-oz (or similar sized) can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

Mix the meats, the beaten egg, the breadcrumbs, the oregano, a pinch of dried red pepper flakes (or more, if you like them spicy), the Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

With wet hands, form the meat into small balls.

Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and cook until the meatballs are brown on all sides and cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Alternatively, you can quickly brown the meatballs (cooking them for only about 10 minutes) and then throw them into a pot of simmering tomato sauce (homemade or jarred) for 15 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.


FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE:

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan or large, deep sauté pan over medium heat. 

Add the onion, the garlic, the carrot and the celery and cook until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. 

Add the tomatoes and stir until the onion mixture is evenly distributed throughout the tomatoes.

Raise the temperature to medium-high simmer for 5-10 minutes.