You probably already know if you want to lose weight how you have to burn more calories each week than you eat. This can be done by a variety of activities, such as working out at the gym, bicycling, swimming, and playing sports, etc.
Unfortunately, buying expensive exercise equipment or investing money in a gym membership isn’t feasible for everyone. What’s more, some people feel they’re are too busy to find time for a work out. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in fitness, it’s easy to excuse yourself from exercising.
True, it helps to have a planned activity. But just by working hard in the house and yard you can burn about as many calories as walking on a treadmill for the same amount of time. Yes, all those mundane household chores you do at home daily count in burning a significant amount of calories.
Not only do you burn calories cleaning your house, but you also improve your body. For keeping your arms shapely, you can polish, dust, mop and/or sweep. Whenever you make the beds you’re bending and stretching. Just add a few more bends and stretches if you only have one or two beds to make. Doing the laundry tones thighs and improves flexibility. And, the next time you’re tempted to complain about living in a multi-level house, be thankful that all that running up and down the stairs can serve as an aerobic workout.
Housework
With just 30 minutes of each of these household chores, you can burn enough calories to earn activity points on the Weight Watchers plan.
Vacuuming – 75 – 125 calories. Give yourself a real workout. Tackle all those corners and specs of dirt.
Cooking – 40 – 50 calories
Cleaning gutters – 340 calories
Mopping floors – 112 calories. Besides burning calories, you can tone your shoulders and biceps.
Yard Work
Walk outside and you can burn even more calories. An hour of gardening burns about 256 calories. You’ll also be working on your arms, back and legs.
Raking leaves – 110 calories per hour
Lawn mowing – 150-225 calories per hour. (Nope, this doesn’t include a riding mower.) The more you push, the more calories burned.
Cleaning gutters – 340 calories per hour, firming your back arms and shoulders
Painting – 288 calories for an hour of painting, working your arms and knees.
Gutter cleaning – 320 calories per hour, working on your shoulders, upper back, arms and legs.
Shopping
Leave your pocketbook at home and go to the mall. Walk around the mall for least 30 minutes, not stopping to look into the windows.
Additional Activities
Although housework and yard work do burn calories, if you want to be lose a lot of weight you need to add some form of physical activity that you do on a regular basis. Even if it’s just walking in or around your house, it’s just as good as if you were on a pricey treadmill or working out at a fitness center.
Also, keep in mind that these calories noted are based on the weight of an average-sized person. The more you weigh the more calories you’ll burn. Use an online calorie counter to determine just how many calories you can burn for your particular size.
When you burn calories caring for your house and yard you get a double bonus. Not only do you work off pounds but you can also feel good about making your home clean and organized.
Originally published on Suite 101.