You’ve probably heard the old adage, “Summer bodies are made in winter”. But realistically, most of us are a lot more lenient in winter when it comes to hitting the gym, going to bootcamp or doing anything more than putting our sheepskin slippers on the moment we get home from work.

The solution? Deskercise! Use those long work hours to stay active, and you’ll be able to keep the guilt (and the extra kilo’s) at bay. So no excuses this winter, get moving with these fun exercises:

Around the workplace:

Keep your workflow and your body moving by visiting colleagues rather than e-mailing them.

Drink a lot of water. Besides helping to flush out toxins, the more trips to the bathroom, the more calories you’ll burn. To increase the burn, visit a bathroom furthest away from your desk.

Walk fast without running. It’ll get your heart beating faster and make it look like you have somewhere important to be.

Take the stairs. For a better workout, take the steps two at a time.

At your desk:

Chair squats are an effective body-strengthening exercise. Stand tall, keep your back straight, and pretend to sit down. Stop just before sitting down and hold for 10 seconds. Stand back up and repeat until you feel the burn.

To keep your legs toned, sit with your legs straight and cross one of on top of the other. Raise them off the floor. Press the top leg down and resist with the bottom leg. Do it until your muscles tire. Repeat with the opposite legs at the top and bottom.

Butt clenches are great for the booty. Tighten your buttocks, hold, hold, hold, and then relax. Repeat 15 times. The same goes for ab squeezes – just tighten your tummy muscles instead.

To work your chest and shoulders, place both hands on the arms of your chair and slowly lift your bottom off the chair. Lower yourself back down but stop short of the seat, hold for a few seconds. Do 15 times.

If you’ve got a swivel chair, put it to good use. Sit upright with your feet hovering over the floor, holding the edge of your desk with your fingers and thumb. Next, use your core to swivel the chair from side to side. Swish back and forth for 15 rounds.

Need more inspiration or additional exercise ideas to do at home? Take a look at our health and fitness professional, Carla Smith’s series of easy toning workouts that you can do anywhere.