Journalist and comedy writer Ralph Jones has some innovative ideas for keeping your fitness on track during coronavirus lockdown.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UKTesco Fusilli Pasta Twists (3kg)
Exercise: Thruster
Sets & Reps: 4 x 20
How To:

  • Hold a 3kg bag of Tesco Fusilli Pasta Twists in each hand.
  • In a squat position, feet slightly further apart than your hips, squat down until your quads are parallel to the floor.
  • Explosively return to standing and push the pasta up over your head, repeating the routine for 30 seconds or until one of the bags splits.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Dinner Plate
Exercise: Overhead Triceps Extension
Sets & Reps: 4 x 20
How To:

  • Standing up, hold the dinner plate in two hands above your head.
  • Keep your elbows tucked in as you lower it behind your head as far as your arms will allow.
  • Extend your arms back to the starting position and repeat.
  • For added resistance, gaffa tape a roast chicken to said plate.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Leg of Lamb (2kg)/Vegan Option: Oat Milk (1L)
Exercise: Turkish Get-Up
Sets & Reps: 5 x 5
How To:

  • Lying on your side, turn onto your back and raise the lamb above your head.
  • Get into a sitting position with your arm still straight up in the air.
  • Using our other arm to support you, lift your bum off the ground.
  • Move onto one knee, still lifting the lamb.
  • Finally, still with one knee on the ground, raise yourself up to a standing position.
  • Then do the whole thing in reverse.
  • Wash your hands.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Dog
Exercise: Candlestick Lift
Sets & Reps: 3 x 12
How To:

  • Lie down on your back and, using charm and bribery, persuade your dog to lie down with its entire bodyweight on your hands.
  • Once it has done so, ensure it stays still – maybe place a bowl of food in front of it.
  • Now, with your hands being anchored by your dog, bring your legs up as high as you can manage, pushing your abs to the limit.
  • Do as many as possible before the dog legs it.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

A Loved One
Exercise: Press-Up
Sets & Reps: 3 x failure
How To:

  • Get into the press-up position and ask a relative, friend, or work colleague to sit on your back.
  • Perform five press-ups while bearing their weight on your back.
  • Try to ignore the shouts of “Faster, come on!” and “I could get used to this.”

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Salami (600g)/Vegan Option: Tofu
Exercise: Side Plank External Rotation
Sets & Reps: 4 x 10
How To:

  • Supporting your bodyweight with the back of one arm, hold the salami in the other hand and, while keeping your feet nice and close together and your body straight, simply rotate the salami in a right-angle outward from the middle of your chest.
  • Feel free to wash and eat afterwards.

Eight household items to work out with during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Semi-Skimmed Milk Carton (2 pints)
Exercise: Russian Twist
Sets & Reps: 4 x 20
How To:

  • Sitting down with your back at approximately 45 degrees and your knees bent, swing the carton of milk across your body, keeping your gaze straight ahead the whole time.
  • Celebrate by drinking the entire thing in a wild frenzy.

Get the next issue of Men’s Fitness (on sale 22 April) for a full home workout plan. 

Follow Ralph Jones on Twitter @OhHiRalphJones