## 10 Surprising Ways to Burn More Calories and Lose Weight
Losing weight can be a challenging journey that requires dedication and perseverance. While a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential, incorporating unexpected and enjoyable activities into your routine can help you burn more calories and stay motivated on the path to a happier, healthier you. Here are 10 somewhat unusual or perhaps little-known ways — all easy to pull off — to burn more calories throughout the day.
### 1. Laugh More
Laughter not only brings joy but can also help you burn calories. According to Michael Hamlin, a personal trainer and founder of EverFlex Fitness, laughing for just 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn up to 40 calories. When you laugh, your body’s muscles contract and expand, increasing your heart rate and oxygen consumption. Additionally, laughing can reduce stress levels, which is beneficial for weight loss as high levels of cortisol have been linked to weight gain.
### 2. Park Further Away from Your Destination
Parking farther away from your destination can build extra steps into your day. Andrew Blakey, a head trainer at Your Future Fitness, suggests getting off transportation farther away or parking your car in a spot that requires more walking. This small habit can promote additional movement, increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, and help with productivity when you arrive at work.
### 3. Walk After Meals
Instead of lounging on the sofa after a meal, try going for a brisk walk. Anne Murray, a fitness trainer and owner of Nourished By Anne LLC, explains that walking after meals sends energy from your food into your cells, lowering post-meal blood sugar spikes and using the energy right away. Just a short walk around the block or to your driveway and back can be beneficial. Ten minutes of movement post-meal can significantly reduce glucose spikes in the body, allowing it to respond more efficiently in digestion and shift into fat-burning mode.
### 4. Do Some Chores
Household chores are not only necessary but can also help you burn calories. Tasks like taking out the recycling or folding laundry require movement and can contribute to weight loss. Vacuuming for 30 minutes can burn up to 166 calories for a person weighing 200 pounds, while mowing the lawn for the same duration can burn up to 200 calories for a person weighing 185 pounds. Incorporating non-exercise activities like chores into your routine can boost metabolism and aid in weight loss.
### 5. Pace Around Your House
Pacing around your home or office can be an effective habit for weight loss. Fran Kilinski, a health coach and owner of Levolution Athletics, suggests that pacing helps get extra steps in, keeps body heat high, and prevents joints in the lower extremities from stiffening. If you head to the gym in the evening, pacing throughout the day can help keep your muscles limber.
### 6. Do Some Deep Breathing
Taking four to five slow, deep breaths before eating can have a significant impact on your body’s ability to burn calories. Bria Gadd, an integrative nutritionist and personal trainer, explains that conscious breathing settles the central nervous system, keeping the body out of fight or flight mode. Eating and drinking from a place of calm keeps the metabolism in calorie-burning mode.
### 7. Take Cold Showers
Exposing your body to cold temperatures through cold showers can activate brown fat, which burns calories to generate heat and maintain your body’s core temperature. This process, known as thermogenesis, can increase the number of calories your body burns throughout the day.
### 8. Do Calf Raises While You Cook
While you’re preparing meals in the kitchen, incorporate calf raises into your routine. Karisa Karmali, a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, suggests doing calf raises while standing to get some exercise while getting things done around the house. Simply stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, stand up on your toes, and slowly lower yourself back down to the floor.
### 9. Get Enough Sleep
A good night’s sleep is essential for weight loss. During sleep, the body goes into repair and recovery mode, and better sleep improves hormone function. Adequate sleep reduces the likelihood of overeating and keeps cortisol, the stress hormone, at a lower level, preventing fat gain.
### 10. Set a Daily Step Goal on Your Smartwatch
Sometimes we forget to take enough steps throughout the day. Setting a daily step goal on your smartwatch can serve as a reminder to get up and walk around. Increasing your daily steps can have a positive impact on your overall calorie burn.
By incorporating these surprising and easy-to-implement activities into your daily routine, you can burn more calories and move closer to your weight loss goals. Remember, weight loss is a journey that requires dedication and perseverance, so find activities that you enjoy and make them a part of your routine.
Original Story at nypost.com – 2024-01-13 19:05:00
