For those trying to lose weight, burning calories becomes essential. It's not only what you do at the gym that counts, but everyday activities also burn calories. Become more active in your daily life and you'll end up burning lots of extra calories without even realizing it. According to MayoClinic.com, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of daily activity to maintain health. If you're trying to lose weight, increase the intensity and length of your workouts.
Sports and Exercise
As a general rule, the more you weigh, the more calories you burn doing any activity. For example, a 130-lb. person will burn 195 calories by walking at a moderate pace for an hour. A person weighing 205 lbs. will burn 307 calories. An average 150-lb. person will burn 493 calories playing tennis for an hour and 352 in a one-hour class of low-impact aerobics. For maximum burn, try backpacking, which burns an average of 493 calories per hour, or step aerobics, with a burn of about 598 calories per hour.
Household Activities
Household chores can burn a significant amount of calories. The Mail Online points out that you can burn calories with both indoor and outdoor activities. For example, ironing for 30 minutes will burn 71 calories, while 30 minutes of cleaning windows will burn 125 calories. Grab some tools for a higher calorie burn. Raking leaves for 30 minutes will burn 225 calories while digging in your garden for 30 minutes will burn 315 calories. Even making the bed will burn calories, at a pace of 130 calories for every 30 minutes.
Unexpected Calorie Burning
If you think you need to be running around to burn calories, think again. Even the small things you do every day will add up. According to The Daily Mail, carrying your shopping bags home can burn 190 calories in 30 minutes. An average 150-lb. person will burn 176 calories playing darts for an hour and 246 by jumping on a trampoline with the kids. Go bird watching to burn 176 calories an hour or try in-line skating for a whopping 844 calories burned in an hour.
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