One of the most popular mantras among those who aren't particularly fond of exercise - myself included - is that 'I, like, just don't have the time for the gym'.
What we do have time for, though, is going to the pub on the last minute request of the enabling mate that we can't say no to. We also have time to 'accidentally' watch as many episodes of a Netflix series that it takes for the streaming service to shamefully check that you're still watching. We are also more than able to to find the time to do all of the things that we want to do, even if they don't already fit into our already hectic lives.
READ MORE: A Selection Alcohol-Free Booze That Doesn't Taste Awful
The Debrief Alcohol-Free Drinks Slider
1 of 7Alcohol-Free Budweiser
Smells like a Bud, tastes like a Bud, comes with a can. We'd say this is top of the 'how to pretend your drinking when you don't want to drink' pecking order.
2 of 7Alcohol-Free Eisberg White Wine
A Sauvignon Blanc not as you know it but it's not *all *that far off. Unless you're a proper wine connoisseur... then you probably won't be into it at all. But it smells very grape-y which is as about as close to a white wine as you get in this game.
3 of 7Alcohol-Free Erdinger Wheat Beer
As soon as we popped the lid on this one it smelt like a pub, so if you're into full sensory drinking go for this guy here. Pours with a generous head if that's how you like your beers but don't try it luke warm. It's not pleasant at all.
4 of 7Alcohol-Free Kopparberg
Oh hey there sugary-sweet cider of our younger years. Honestly, I'd struggle to tell the difference between this one and the boozy alternative which, for these purposes, is a good thing. Teeth will probably feel a bit furry by the time you finish the bottle, though.
5 of 7Alcohol-Free Seedlp 'Spirit'
Here we have the world's first distilled alcohol-free spirit. As for which spirit it's meant to be, we're not sure. But it's made from peas (and smells like peas) but doens't taste half bad with some lemonade and/or orange juice.
6 of 7Alcohol-Free Rawsons Retreat Sparlking Chardonnay
I'm very sorry to say that we struggled to find a precise prosecco alternative. And technically this bottle of bubbles is 0.5% alcohol but we're pretty sure that doesn't really count... right?
7 of 7Alcohol-Free Stowford Press Cider
Smells like a barrel of cider alright! And it really does taste pretty close to a pint of the alcoholic stuff that one rogue mate insists on ordering from the local pub.
No shade thrown over here, though. I consider it a skill that I can now list a million things that simply *must *be done or come higher on my list of priorities before getting all gross and sweaty in some testosterone filled gym after work. But I often forget that there are loads of routines/exercises/methods devised to help us slip a cheeky workout into our lives. And one of those sneaky little techniques is desk-exercises.
The fact of the matter is that we now spend more time than ever sat at our desks and our movement is very limited. The negative effects this has on our health - it's been linked to diabetes, slowing metabolisms and high blood pressure - is no secret but (and yes, this is another excuse) jumping up to do a set of spontaneous lunges in the middle of the office isn't the most apealling of ways to get the job done.
But, in the spirit of getting off our bums and actually giving the exercise thing a go, we tried five of the most straight forward ways to include a little mini workout into office hours (while wearing jeans and a bad hair day beret, obvs) and ranked them by level of awkwardness. Because Jane from accounts will probably be at least a little bit confused if you start doing jumping jacks in the printer queue.
5. Under-desk leg raises
Meet the sneakiest of our tried and tested exercises. Make sure you're sat up straight in your chair and your arms are at a comfortable level by your side. Raise one leg so it's parallel with the floor, flex your foot and hold it there for about 10 seconds. Slowly lower it too the ground without kicking whoever sits at the desk opposite you and repeat on the other leg.
Awkwardness rating: 2/10
4. Bums off seats squats
As long as the colleague opposite you doesn't mind the occasional head bobbing, these squats are pretty chill. You know, minus the squatting bit. Just stand in front of your chair with your feet hip width apart and squat down to hover just above your chair (the lower you go, the easier it is to hide your strain face behind your computer screen) before rising up again.
Awkwardness rating: 4/10
3. Back up off (on) the wall
Okay you need to move a little way away from your desk for this one. You've seen and hated this one before but it's also a great excuse to give your eye a break from your dreaded computer screen for about 30 seconds (because that's quite generously the longest I can hold one for) or so. The key is to make sure that your thighs are parallel to the floor and your knees are at a comfortable right angle. Be sure to nod nonchalantly at passers by as if they're the strange ones.
Awkwardness rating: 5/10
2. The upward air jab(?!)
Boxing is a great workout (I hear) and while a lot of the benefit is in the foot work too, we gave the arms a go from our desks and it was effectively tiring if you do it for long enough. We opted for up instead of forward (it's both good for shoulders, endurance, and not punching a hole in your desktop monitor) and the lovely Elizabeth who sits opposite me was only mildly alarmed by my flouncing. I can't speak for the rest of the office, though...
Awkwardness rating: 7/10
1. Tricep desk dips
For the record, there is no subtle way to go about these bad boys but they felt the most like legit at-your-desk exercise. Turn away from your desk and plonk your hands on it from behind (maybe give it a gentle push to make sure it'll be able to support you first. We don't want any accidents, please) with your legs a little way in front of you - bent legs is easier and probably safer, btw. I have zero faith that I'm doing it properly - and erm... dip. Then use your arms to push yourself back up. Repeat until the stress of people trying to walk around you outweighs the lol factor.
Awkwardness rating: 10/10
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.