Five ways to burn 50 calories
By Caitlin Van Den Brink, Contributor
Around now, everyone is starting to realize that their New Year’s resolution to lose weight is actually a lot of work. However, here at The Other Press, we’re determined to help you cut corners wherever you can, making your resolution as easy as possible to manage. For instance, did you know that you can burn more calories by…
1.Bringing your book to you
Students have textbooks. That’s a well-known fact. Instead of reading it while it lies on your bed or a table, hold it up so that you don’t have to look down at it. Reading suddenly becomes an isometric exercise that will strengthen your shoulders and arms, and help burn calories.
2.Being tidy
Not only can several housecleaning activities—from vacuuming to ironing to dusting—burn over 100 calories per hour, but having a clean house can help lower stress and, with it, lower that fat-inducing hormone cortisol. And, let’s face it: life is easier when you don’t have to dig through that pile of clothes on your bedroom floor each morning.
3. Fidgeting
Tapping your feet, twirling your pen, and pacing while you talk on the phone all burn more calories than sitting still. However, a 150-pound person who regularly performs activities such as these can burn up to an extra 300 calories a day when compared to a non-fidgeter. That’s a difference of more than 30 pounds a year!
4. Watching a scary movie
Sound too good to be true? It’s not. These movies activate your fight or flight response, which in turn increases your heart rate, increases your resting metabolic rate, and decreases your appetite. Just stay away from the munchies that normally go along with Friday the 13th.
5. Splurging
Whether it’s grocery shopping or window shopping, you’re doing your body (though maybe not your wallet) a favour. The constant movement—pushing a food buggy, carrying bags of clothes, stretching to grab items from a top shelf—is a surprisingly effective workout. Bringing some friends along makes it a double-whammy when this suddenly social event beats back daily stressors and lowers cortisol levels.
