“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” ~John Lennon
Lennon may have been referring to bigger plans, such as career prospects or love interests, his words can easily be applied to exercise programs. Do you religiously make it to spin class each week? Do you know exactly when hitting the gym fits into your schedule each day? With all of the planning that goes into staying active, it is easy to overlook aspects of our daily routine that can actually make huge contributions to a healthy lifestyle.
Here are a few things that may not help you hit your maximum heart rate, but provide calorie-burning benefits nonetheless.
Sitting in Class: 65 calories every 30 minutes
Thinking about sleeping in and skipping class Monday morning? Throw back the covers, pull on a sweatshirt and head out the door instead. Sitting in class and taking notes will burn more calories than nabbing that extra hour of sleep.
Walking to class: 102 calories every 30 minutes
We all have to get to class somehow and walking is an easy way to incorporate a little extra exercise in your daily routine. That brisk walk between Gibson and Newcomb might be annoying, but it’s also a great calorie-blasting
opportunity.
Cooking: 93 calories every 30 minutes
Take one night a week and turn it into a dinner party. You’ll burn calories just by moving around the kitchen, preparing your meal and can also squeeze in some bonding time with your favorite guys and gals, helping to beat stress-induced blues. Of course, your final home-cooked product is the real reward!
Cleaning: 101 calories every 30 minutes
As much as you may dread pulling out your vacuum or lugging your dirty clothes to the laundry room, these tasks can help you stay fit. Designate part of a weekend morning to tidying up your room and taking out the trash; not only will you de-clutter your living space, you’ll also feel a little lighter!
Standing: 118 calories every 30 minutes
While it may not seem like it, standing does burn calories. The next time you find your lower half falling asleep during a seemingly endless study session, try standing up and holding your notes. Your change of position will wake up your bum and your brain!
Eating: varies
It may sound too good to be true, but let me assure you, it’s not! Digesting the food you eat does, in fact, require energy, which means an increased caloric expenditure. Does your body’s digestive system use enough energy to burn off Saturday’s Boot pizza? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but not even close. However, certain foods do take more calories to digest than they provide upon entering your body; not surprisingly, it’s fruits and veggies like apples, grapefruit, carrots and watermelon that possess this redeeming quality.
In addition to sticking with your exercise plan for the week, try to appreciate these little bits of life when they do happen, or incorporate them where they might be missing!
Note: Calories are calculated for a 150lb person.
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