You might be surprised to know that you don’t need to go to the gym
to stay fit. Your daily activities burn calories and can add up to a
personal fitness routine. Research indicates there are a number of
everyday activities that, if done correctly, will burn 200 or more
calories in 30 minutes to an hour. Check out the following activities
and the number of calories they burn. (Note: Calories are based on a
150-pound person. If you’re heavier, you’ll burn even more).
1. Playing badminton
Badminton is a very fun activity which can burn quite a number of
calories. The longer the game is played, the more energy that will be
burned. Play badminton at a moderate intensity for one hour, you will
burn approximately 400 calories. Playing badminton for an hour will burn
three times more calories than working out in the gym for the same
period of time.
2. Grocery Shopping
You burn 47 calories in 30 minutes of standing in line and 260
calories in an hour of grocery shopping with a cart. Bag your own
groceries, take them out to the car yourself, and return the cart to the
corral, and you’ll burn even more.
3. Car Washing
Washing your car works your arms and abdominals. Simply rinsing,
washing and drying your car can burn 334 calories in an hour! So the
next time there’s a long line at the carwash, take a hose and a bucket
of soapy water and get to it.
4. Vacuuming
Vacuuming the carpet will help tone your arms and legs and burn
calories, especially if your vacuum is heavy. An hour of vacuuming burns
approximately 180 calories, the same amount you’d burn in 30 minutes of
kick boxing.
5. Dancing
Dancing is a great cardio exercise that tightens and tones the
muscles. You can burn 150 to 400 calories dancing for 30 minutes. It
depends on how much you weigh, how hard you work, the type of dance, and
the number of breaks you take. Aerobic dance can burn upwards of 443
calories per hour.
6. Jumping Rope
Your favorite childhood playground game is actually an incredible
workout. Depending on your pace and intensity, it can burn about 300
calories in 30 minutes.
7. Laundry & Ironing
Throwing your laundry in the washer, the dryer and then folding it
can burn more than 200 calories. And if some of your laundry needs to be
pressed, add on another 140 calories for every hour you spend ironing.
