There’s no question that there’s a lot more to weight management than calories in versus calories out. It’s not just a numbers game. At the same time, however, we can’t ignore energy balance—calories (in and out) matter.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, keep it off, or just trying to make amends for indulging a bit, ramping up your calorie-burning metabolism is only going to help. And while most people first think of exercise, the truth is you can boost your metabolic rate simply being more active throughout the day.
This is called NEAT (for non-exercise activity thermogenesis), and many researchers think this is the secret weapon for getting and staying lean. With that in mind, here are 10 quick and easy ways to slash 100 calories without hitting the gym. (Scroll down to see the infographic!)
1. Clean Up
Turn on some tunes and take time to tidy up. In just the 30 minutes it takes to clean house, you’ll burn right around 100 calories.
2. Dig In
To your garden, that is. Whether you’re weeding, planting, digging, or harvesting, you’ll burn right around 100 calories per 25 minutes, and you’ll get to enjoy being outside and growing your own healthy eats and floral arrangements as a bonus.
3. Mind Your Lawn
Manicure your lawn for just 20 minutes, and you will burn 100 calories.
4. Dance, Baby
Just 20 minutes of dancing can burn 100 calories. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.
5. Take a Hike
Enjoy the great outdoors and burn 100 calories in a mere 15 minutes.
6. Hello Recess
Whether it’s a busy day at home or the office, there’s always time to have more fun. A short 10- to 15-minute break to move your body can be a great way to refocus, be more productive, and burn 100 calories to boot. Grab a friend or co-worker to play some hoops, jump some rope, or just play tag with your favorite little one.
7. Stand Up
Along those lines, you’ll burn even more calories when you stand-instead of sit-to work. For every 10 minutes of standing, you’ll burn an extra 10 to 20 calories. You can break up your time standing throughout the day or do it all at once to easily burn an extra 100 calories.
8. Take a Walk…ing Meeting
In a short 15-minute meeting, you and your co-worker(s) can easily burn off 100 calories, especially if you pick up the pace.
9. Take the Stairs
In just 10 minutes, you can burn 100 calories while helping shape your legs and bootie to boot.
10. Set the Pace
Spend a great deal of your day on the phone? Get a wireless headset or take advantage of speakerphone and pace as you talk. A 35-minute call will speed by as your burn up to 100 calories.
The truth is that it’s not about a number. It’s about a lifestyle. Set your intention to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. Set an alarm during the day to make sure you get moving for at least 5 – 15 minutes every hour. Do your best to not sit (or even stand) still for too long.
