Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Burn 480 Extra Calories Today without Going to the Gym

I found this in a magazine I was going through, and I was going to post this after Thanksgiving - but obviously didn't get around to it.  For all of you in the midst of your holiday season where you might be eating more than usual, perhaps you can still use these calorie burning ideas.
  • Make your bed instead of leaving it all rumpled, as usual - maybe even put on fresh sheets.  You'll burn 30 calories.
  • Park in the spot that's farthest from your office or train and power walk there (about 3 minutes each way).  You'll burn 40 calories.
  • Forget email.  Actually deliver 15 messages or so to coworkers in person.  You'll burn 68 calories.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator when you get to work, when you go out to grab lunch, and when you leave.  For 6 flights you'll burn 58 calories.
  • Walk the 3 blocks to Starbucks, rather than driving, to pick up your skim latte.  You'll burn 65 calories.  (of course, you'll probably take in more than 65 calories, but who's counting?)
  • Leave the grocery cart in the store and tote the bags to the car and also, of course, into the house.  You'll burn 35 calories.
  • Do a half hour of chores.  You'll burn 75 calories.
  • Get off the couch and pace around (or do those chores) while you chat on the phone with a friend for 20 minutes.  You'll burn 64 calories.
  • Special bonus: Crawl into bed and have sex!  You'll burn 45 calories (and live longer, but that's another story).
Extra calories burned throughout the day: 480!  (all calculation based on a 140-pound woman)

Some or all of these may not fit into your day, but the point is to get up and get moving!  Think of little ways to burn those extra calories, and it all adds up at the end of the day.  The goal is to burn at least as many, if not more, calories than you take in every day.  If you're going to be eating more, you need to be moving more.

What are you going to do today?
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