I’m worried about the freshman 15, any good workouts I can do without leaving my USF apartment?

Between Florida's unpredictable weather, crowded cardio rooms and a busy class schedule at the University of South Florida, it's not always easy to find the time or motivation to go to the gym. Many apartments near USF have fitness centers or swimming pools for swimming laps. If yours doesn't, fear not! When bad weather or lack of motivation strikes, a great home-workout regime is the perfect solution. Just remember, our specialty is finding you the perfect USF off-campus apartment for your lifestyle and needs, so make sure you check in with your physician before trying any of these out. 

Now you may be thinking: so many home-workouts involve expensive gear or jumping moves sure to get you in a fight with your downstairs neighbor. But we're here to let you in on a few little secrets to turning your apartment into the gym of your dreams. Added bonus: your roommates won't hear a peep out of you (unless you're bumping to Kanye a bit too loud.) So no matter how quiet your apartment complex is, or how many roommates you have in your four-bedroom apartment, you'll be sure to get in a great workout.

Head your mother's advice and get cleaning

This one is sure to please both your roommates and your imaginary personal trainer. An hour of sweeping, vacuuming, and scrubbing and you'll be set for cardio. To really feel the burn, add some lunges and squats in as you roam about the room. You'll knock out two birds with one stone: your weekly chores and your workout. It'll even boost productivity for your studies by increasing blood flow to your brain and clearing your mind to think better in the newly de-cluttered space.

Static holds

If you've ever been to a Pilates or advanced yoga class you know the hidden power of a good static hold. Static simply means lack of movement, so a static hold is weight training by holding certain positions for a few seconds or longer. These can all be done with or without weights, according to your physical abilities. Simply hold each position for 30 seconds with 15 seconds off and repeat the circuit 3-5 times. A few tried and true static holds are squat holds, static lunges, glute bridges, wall sits and planks, but feel free to get creative. Check out this article for 28 different holds and in-depth instructions for each.  

Bodyweight-only

Continuing with the no-added-weight theme from above, there are a few isotonic  movements that target major muscles without needing expensive gear or weights. Don't knock it till you try it, but if you're not sure they'll be challenging enough for you just add in a couple University of South Florida textbooks to any of the moves for some additional weight. Our recommendations are air squats, superman pulses, Russian twists and Triceps dips on a chair or couch.

Dance it out

Inside the safety of your USF apartment, you can feel free to bust out those moves you've always wanted to try. Pop in some headphones or blast it over the stereo and let yourself go. A few health benefits of dancing are improved muscular strength and condition of heart and lungs, as well as improved balance and spatial awareness. Grab a couple roomies to really get the fun going.

Take a walk

This one requires heading outside, but there are many benefits to getting some fresh air every day, and walking itself is great for your overall health. 30 minutes a day is enough to lower your chances of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, so put on your headphones and start that podcast your classmate keeps recommending. 30 minutes will fly by.

These are the opinions of writers and not the opinions of ApartmentsForBulls.com or any of our advertising partners.