LOADING

Type to search

Alternatives to exercise…that work!

Alternatives to exercise…that work!

Share

Here are some ideas that prove you don’t always need to spend hours exercising to lose weight

Are you feeling guilty for skipping your morning workout, or did you not quite make it to the gym after work? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. At this time of year, it can be hard finding motivation.

But what if there was a way you could burn calories without it feeling like you were actually exercising? “There are some really simple changes you can incorporate into your daily routine whilst sitting at your desk at work or when you’re at home going about day-to-day tasks, which can help to increase the amount of calories you burn,” says Terri-Ann Nunns, creator of the Terri-Ann 123 Diet Plan. “There will be many things that you already do that actually burn more calories than you would ever think – meaning you don’t need to feel guilty about skipping a workout.”

Here are ten…

Fidgeting

Good news if you struggle to sit still, as you could be doing yourself a favour when it comes to burning extra calories. ‘Fidgeting’ whilst watching TV, sitting at your desk or eating dinner, and it could be tapping your foot, shaking your leg or always getting up and down, burns calories because your body is constantly moving.

How many calories can you burn?Research has found you can burn up 350 calories a day by simply ‘fidgeting’.


Laughter

Laughter is always a good thing, whether it’s a giggle with friends or laughing out loud at the TV – nothing boosts happiness like a good laugh. But an even bigger benefit of laughing is that you actually burn calories by doing so. Although not by a huge amount, your heart rate increases, causing calories to be burned.

How many calories can you burn?
It’s been found that 15 minutes of laughter a day can burn 10 to 40 calories.

Dancing

We’re not talking about a Zumba or intense aerobics class at the gym, we’re referring to the dancing you do when you hit the town and let your hair down! Whether you’re into house, R&B or cheese, upbeat, fast-paced music that you can move to will increase your heart rate and burn calories. So, don’t feel ashamed of your moves next time you head out…

How many calories can you burn?Studies show that 40 minutes of dancing can burn around 200 calories.

Daily routine

When we get ready each day we tend to do so in one spot. We stand still when we brush our teeth and we sit down to dry our hair and apply make-up. But what if there was an easy way to burn calories when going about our morning routine? Walking around briskly, when you’d normally stand still, or squatting when you’d usually sit, can be an effective way of burning calories without thinking about it. The continuous movement means you will burn more calories than you would be being dormant!

How many calories can you burn?Research shows you can burn 70 calories for every five minutes you do squats, so 15 minutes of squatting will burn about 200 calories.

Housework

We often hear people say that housework and cleaning the whole house feels more intense than a full body workout. While this may seem a tad dramatic, in actual fact you can burn a serious amount of calories from doing household chores. Cleaning, hoovering and tidying are all physical work and require you to be constantly on the move – similar to if you were working out. This means it’s a really effective and easy way to burn calories.

How many calories can you burn?

*An hour spent dusting burns 166 calories.

*An hour hoovering burns 175 calories an hour.

*An hour of ironing burns 157 calories.

Playing with children

There’s no denying that children are always full of energy and keeping up with them can sometimes prove difficult. Chasing them around the park, playing games with them and even getting them into bed can all contribute to burning calories as when they’re constantly on the move. You tend to be as well, making it a great way to burn calories without even realising it.

How many calories can you burn?       Research has found that playing with/running after children for just 20 minutes can burn 78 calories

Sex

It goes without saying, but getting it on with a partner can definitely contribute to burning extra calories. It’s simple really, as the longer your heart rate is maintained at a higher-than-normal ‘resting’ rate, the more calories you will burn. 

How many calories can you burn?Studies have found that most couples burn an average of 300 calories an hour while they’re having sex.

Wearing heels

Walking in heels can be difficult enough as it is, so it’s good to know that there really are some benefits from suffering all day. Heels can also be a really great way to tone and shape your legs, as they act in a similar way to fitness shoes that are designed to help with toning the muscles in your legs.

How many calories can you burn?Walking burns anywhere from 90 to 200 calories in 30 minutes.

A good night’s sleep

Ensuring you have a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest can help you burn more calories when you do come to work out. When we’re tired, we’re more likely to work with less effort when exercising, or even to skip a workout all together. Ensuring you have enough sleep leads to better performance all round, including in your workouts.

How many calories can you burn?Multiple studies have found a connection between sleep and weight loss. Not enough sleep leads to more food cravings and a slower metabolism.

Taking the stairs

Sometimes it’s the little things that count, and swapping the lift for the stairs can really have a big difference on how many calories you burn. Try running up and down them on occasion to increase your heart rate and get a mini workout in-between meetings or when at home.

How many calories can you burn?You can burn 102 calories by walking up and down the stairs for 10 minutes.

Tags:
Previous Article

You Might also Like