4 Easy Ways to Burn More Calories

   

     I, like many others, am working hard to get into better shape.  I have many goals including weight loss, better flexibility, more defined muscles, more energy, etc.  In working towards my many goals, I have read, and researched, and tested, and tried, and I have decided that it is time to share some of the things I have learned.  So, for the next few months I am going to share a few details about my fitness journey.  What works? What doesn't?  What's fact, and what is fiction?

     For my first post in this segment, I am going to talk about a few metabolism boosters and some easy ways to burn more calories.  Each of these things I am going to share is something I have done, or am doing, and has or is working for me.  Hopefully something I share may be helpful for someone else, too. 

1.) Take A Break!

     If you, the reader, are anything like me, then you probably enjoy a good Netflix and chill session!  Who doesn't like to curl up on the couch or in bed to sit and watch season after season of their favorite show?  I like to consider myself a fairly active person, but at the end of a long day, I love my Netflix.  Unfortunately, the show watching part is not what burns the extra calories, but rather what happens in between.  So, take a break!  Do something between episodes, stand and fold a load of laundry, put the clean dishes away, sweep the floor quick, do a few jumping jacks, or push ups, or something little to get your heart rate up at least a little bit.  Every calorie counts, right? 

2.) Sneak in Some Extra Steps

     Anymore, I am positive I am not the only one with a job that does not require a whole lot of moving around.  I spend a lot of time behind a desk taking calls, scheduling clients, and just, well, sitting. Unfortunately, there a lot of not so good things that happen to our bodies when we sit too long, which I will not get into right now.  I heard of someone somewhere who set a timer for every half hour and took a quick walk around the work place, and supposedly that helped burn quite a few more calories.  So now I have made a point to do the same.  So far it seems to help me feel a lot better, and it helps me focus a lot better through the occasional change of scenery.  Another way I like to sneak in those extra steps is when I do the laundry.  Instead of carrying all our laundry to the couch where I can sit there and fold it all, I take one piece out of the dryer, fold it, and walk it over the couch and add it to its respective pile. Tons of extra steps right there! (Thank you fitbit).  And you know what steps mean?  Calories! It's in the little things.  I have been surprised at how quickly the steps add up just by doing simple things such as mentioned above. 

3.) Skip the Drive

     This, I have to say, has been the biggest way I have started to burn more calories.  Instead of jumping in the car on the way to church, leave a few minutes early and walk.  Instead of driving all the way to work, walk.  Walk to the grocery store, or the library, anywhere within that walking distance.  Now of course not everywhere we go do we have that option, but if the option is there, do it.  It takes my husband and I about seven minutes to walk to church every Sunday, and we both love it.  It gives us a chance to hold hands and talk before enjoying Sacrament and other meetings.  I am lucky enough to work only a five minutes drive away from home, which according to the GPS makes about a thirty some minute walk.  For some that might seem like a long walk, but plug in some head phones, do it a couples times, and eventually it seems like nothing.  Plus, if I walk fast enough and get my heart rate up enough, I can burn around three hundred calories just going to work.  

4.) Small Workouts

     Nothing crazy, but a small workout just to get your heart rate up and your muscles moving is a great way to burn some extra calories, especially if you do this in the morning.  A morning workout is a great way to get your metabolism going while burning those calories, but calories are burned not matter what time of day this is done, so don't skip out just because the morning didn't happen.

     I have tried all of these things, and it has honestly helped a lot.  I go the gym as often as I can, and I try to fit in specific workouts throughout my week, but some days, it just doesn't happen.  Luckily, by doing these little things, I have been able to keep moving forward, rather than moving backwards.  One Sunday in particular, I looked at my fitbit and realized I had burned an extra 150 calories (I check it often) just by taking some extra steps while doing a few loads of laundry, and walking to and from church, and the best part?  All the laundry got done! 

     *please feel free to comment and start a conversation!


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