If healthy weight-loss is your goal, you will need to burn 500 more calories per day than you take in to lose a pound of body fat per week. That means getting more active, but it does not necessarily mean that you have to spend an hour or two in the gym every day. There are plenty of fun, easy activities you can do at home or right in your neighborhood to reach that 500 calorie a day goal, and exercising at home has the advantage of allowing the family to get involved and become more active and fit as well.
Walk the Dog
Walking is a great way to burn calories, and walking with your dog can make it more fun. Besides, having Fido in tow is likely to pick up the pace, as our four-legged friends tend to be quite enthusiastic about that daily walk. Having the family dog as your exercise partner will also help keep you dedicated to your daily routine, as Fido will certainly remind you to get moving once walk time becomes habit. Walking at a brisk pace of about 4 mph for 90 minutes can burn about 526 calories in a person who weighs 150 lbs., or a 45 minute walk in the morning and another after dinner would meet that 500 calorie a day goal.
Dance
Dancing is a fun and easy way to get some calorie burning aerobic exercise and one that can get the whole family more active. A person weighing 180 lbs. can burn around 500 calories with an hour of energetic dancing, reaching that daily goal. Drafting family members as dance partners can help keep them in shape as well.
Go Out to Play With the Kids
Outdoor games with the kids can burn a lot of calories and are fun for everyone. For example, jumping rope with the children for 45 minutes can burn about 547 calories for a person that weighs 160 lbs. and a 200-lb. person would burn around 532 calories in 35 minutes. A 30-minute game of hopscotch combined with 30 minutes of jump rope can burn a total of 522 calories in a 150-lb. person, while 25 minutes of each activity would burn 522 calories in a person who weighs 180 lbs.
Swimming
Swimming can be a fun, easy way to help reach that calorie burning goal. Swimming laps for 50 to 60 minutes is enough to meet that 500 calorie daily goal for most people. Additionally, you will likely find it quite easy to find exercise partners among family and friends, especially during hot, humid summer weather.
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