THE gym is still the best place to take the weight off. But did you know that regular daily activities can also mimic some of the work at the gym? What you have to do is merely make those routine activities a little more rigorous to make them impactful on burning calories. It’s a good way to get some workout if you can’t commit to exercise. If you do go to the gym, its a nice touch to supplement your efforts to really keep the weight off. Try these:
1. Take the stairs. The eternal battle of stairs ‘s elevator wages on everyday Shave off a few calories by taking the stairs every time is an option. This way you can even take StairMaster out of your gym regimen since you’re already doing it au naturel—on your way up to the office, on your way down to a smoke break, etc.
2. Fidget. Tapping of feet and fingers, making hand gestures when speaking and other voluntary and in voluntary mini actions can burn a small meal throughout the day. And if in deep thought or on the phone, you have the habit of pacing, that’s an extra 90 calories being shooed away.
3. Walk to lunch. We all want to maximize our lunch break by taking it in the cafeteria or having it delivered. But a better way to make the most out of ft is to incorporate some form of workout. If your favorite restaurant is within the block, walk to it instead of driving or taking a cab.
4. Meet offline, Inside the office, is common practice to e-mail coworkers about the simplest of concerns. Burn a little by walking to their office or cubicle to speakto them in person.
5. Window-shop. Again, its all about walking. Mall activities can be quite a workout if you like tryingthings on and fiddling with the racks Going back to a prior point take the stairs instead of the escalator.
6. Run errands. Instead of having things delivered to you, pick them up yourself. Drop off priority mail at the courier go to the bank and electric and phone companies to settle bills instead of online transactions; and pick up your own laundry and maybe even offer to do so for a friend.
7. Listen to upbeat music, The tendency is you’ll be more energetic. Wben doing chores or just walking on the street cranking up the volume on your iPod will make you move more, bob your head and even dance a little, All the physical activity is a surefire way to shed a couple hundred cal.
8. Take your coffee break sugar-free. Caffeine is an effective way to lose more calories. Pass on any ingredient (sugar, cream and other additives) that could replace the calories you’re burning.
9. Drink cold water. The body naturally warms itself whenever ft’s exposed to cooler temperatures—just like when ft’s cold out. Similarly, the body’s response to cold beverages entering it is to warm them up. Although the calorie requirement of this process is very low, it still uses calories that you otherwise wouldn’t burn.
10. Work the brain. Recent studies report that a challenging mental task bums 1.5 calories per minute. That’s 90 calories an hour. Therefore, people who solve punles, like the crossword or Sudoku, are actually working out.