• New year, new me – gym related searches skyrocket in January
• However, by the second weekend of February most of us have stopped looking
• ScS has teamed up with Fitternotfatter to create a sofa-based workout for those who want to take their fitness routine indoors this winter

New research has revealed that while many Brits start off the year with good intentions for their fitness goals, by the second weekend of February most have lost all enthusiasm for their new found fitness regimes.

ScS, the sofa and carpet specialist, analysed Google Trends data [1] and found that while searches for gym memberships are sky high in January, this number dramatically drops by the second weekend of February, by which point most people have binned their fitness regimes in favour of nights in on the sofa in front of the TV.

However, choosing to stay indoors doesn’t mean you have to give up your good intentions. To help would-be couch potatoes, ScS has teamed up with personal trainer Shaun O’Brien at Fitternotfatter to create a set of exercises that you can do entirely from the comfort of your living room.

The new technique, called Sofacise, uses a sofa as a platform on which to do a range of different exercises that, used together, results in a thorough workout without ever having to leave the house.

Shaun O’Brien, personal trainer at Fitternotfatter, commented: “People think that to get fit you have to spend hours slogging away in the gym, but that isn’t the case. If you’re struggling to fit exercise into your daily routine, using the equipment you have at home is a great way to keep fit without even leaving the house.

“Exercises such as squats and press ups can be done indoors using furniture you would find around the home, and the best part is you can fit them in around other tasks such as putting the washing on or waiting for dinner to cook.

“Try doing mountain climbers on an incline by placing your hands on the arm of an armchair or a dining room table, or doing tricep dips off the edge of the sofa. These exercises are really simple and have all the benefits of gym-based exercises.”

ScS managing director Kevin Royal added: “Anyone wanting to start a new fitness regime knows how difficult it can be to build up the motivation to exercise, whether that’s going out for a run in freezing temperatures, or visiting a gym that’s crowded with other people trying to fulfill their New Year’s’ resolutions.

“However getting fit doesn’t have to be difficult! The sofa is a great piece of fitness equipment and the best part is that everyone already has one in their home, removing the need to buy expensive pieces of kit. Adding in just a few of these exercises into your routine could make all the difference, and the best part is that your sofa is right there and ready for you to collapse in afterwards!”

Always seek advice from your GP before starting a new exercise regime.