Every time your body moves, you're burning calories. Depending on the type of activity you're doing, your body will burn more calories, especially if it's an activity that gets your heart beating. Everyday activities that may seem mundane can actually help you burn a few extra calories without having to go to the gym. The exact number of calories burned per activity will depend largely on your height, weight and age.
Walking
Every day you use your feet to get from one point to another, and every step you take, burns a small amount of calories. Take every opportunity you can to walk. Park at the far end of the grocery store or mall parking lot. Shopping may empty your pocketbook, but it can benefit your waistline if, for example, you take the stairs at the mall instead of the escalator. Every step counts.
Getting Ready
Because the basic activities of getting ready -- brushing teeth, showering, putting on clothes -- make you use your muscles and get moving, that means you're burning calories. In fact, in the half hour it takes you to hop in the shower, put on your clothes and brush and comb your hair, you can burn up to 130 calories.
Sex
Believe it or not, sex can burn calories. Sex is a natural way to get your heart beating and your body sweating. Of course, much of that depends on how vigorous the sex is, but according to "Fitness Magazine," you can burn up to 100 calories during an hour-long romp in the sack.
Household Chores
They may be burdensome, but before you put off mopping the floor or vacuuming, consider the health benefits of doing those everyday household chores. Activities like sweeping, mopping and vacuuming require the use of several different muscle groups, meaning that while your floor is getting clean, you're burning calories.
Yard Work
Activities around the yard such as raking leaves, mowing the lawn and planting flowers all require physical exertion and can be a way to burn through calories throughout your day. Instead of that riding lawnmower, consider getting a push mower; it requires more effort and will thus burn more calories. Use a rake instead of a leaf blower to pick up leaves.
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