With busy work and home life demands, sometimes it's hard to fit in a workout at the gym. But that does not mean you can't burn calories and keep fit. Here are some easy ways to burn calories that you can easily schedule into your everyday routine.
Walk
Look for every opportunity to add extra steps to your day. Instead of circling the parking lot in your car looking for the closest parking space, park in the last row and use that time to walk. Recruit a friend to walk with you during lunchtime, take the long way to the water cooler during your break at work and use the stairs rather than the elevator whenever possible. All of those extra steps add up over the course of the day. According to the July 2004 issue of the "Harvard Heart Letter," for every 30 minutes of walking, you'll burn 120 to 222 calories depending on your weight and the speed at which you walk. You'll burn extra calories with every flight of steps you climb.
Clean
Chances are you need to do it anyway so turn on some tunes, pick up the pace and scrub those floors. According to the Calorie Control Council, cleaning can burn 235 to 355 calories an hour, and you'll have the added benefit of a clean house at the end.
Play With Your Kids
You can spend quality time with your kids and burn calories at the same time. Play some hopscotch, tag, hide and go seek or another active game with your kids and you'll burn 120 to 222 calories in just 30 minutes, according to the July 2004 issue of the "Harvard Heart Letter." Your kids will also benefit from the exercise.
Exercise in Your Office
Stand up at your desk and do some leg lifts while you type. Do some squats while you mull over a strategy. Keep dumbbells in your desk drawer and pull them out while you are on the phone. Even short five to 10 minutes bursts of exercise here and there throughout the day will add up and burn calories.
Garden
Gardening and light yard work like weeding, planting and raking are all easy ways to burn calories. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you can burn approximately 330 calories in one hour and gain a beautiful yard in the process.
Add Activity to Your Social Life
Instead of meeting friends for dinner or a movie, suggest meeting for a hike or going skiing. At holidays and picnics, try some new traditions. Instead of grazing around the hors d'oeuvre table for hours, start an annual family football game at Thanksgiving and a volleyball game with friends on the Fourth of July.
Member Comments