Step Stool

I have always said you don’t have to go to a gym or have the best equipment to get a good workout.  Most of the time if you just look around your house there is a piece of exercise equipment staring you right in the face, but it just takes a little imagination to see it.  Most of just have used a step stool at some time in our life and never thought of doing too much more than that with it, but let me tell you for around $10 this is a great little sturdy tool to get you fit in any room at home.  The single step hard plastic models by Rubbermaid and other brands are very sturdy and can hold a lot of weight.  Also, many have the rubber on the legs for no slip, which is essential for fast moving leg exercises.  Cheap, easy, effective no excuse workout for a  short 20 minutes of your day.

Exercises
Push-ups-this is an obvious one, but using one or both hands on the stool or feet is a great way to mix up the most popular chest exercise.
Abs-while sitting on the stool extend your legs out without touching the floor and try bring your knees back into your chest.
Dips-starting with hands and glutes on the stool, then lower yourself out with heels planted in the floor until your glutes touch the floor then using your triceps press yourself up.
Lunges-With your front foot on the stool and the other back perform the deep lung.  You can also step back to the other foot for a more advanced maneuver.  Also, you can reverse your feet with the back toe on the stool.
Squats-Standing with one foot on the stool, squat down then explode up with a rising knee from the floor.  Perform one leg then the other, or as you perform the rising knee switch your feet in midair to pick up the intensity.
Quick Steps or Jumps for Cardio
Linear-facing the stool, step up on the stool and back down as fast as you can switching your lead foot every time.
Cross-facing one direction, step up on the stool then to the left or right until you make a cross using all four sides.
Jumps-Using two feet together instead of separate perform the linear or cross for an even more intense workout.

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