By LYDIA RUEGER
The holiday season with all its abundance is about to pounce. Are you ready to stave off the extra pounds that come with office parties and cookie exchanges? It’s a tough time of year that requires a higher activity level, especially if you just can’t say no to peanut brittle. CACA
Losing weight, or maintaining a healthy weight, is all about calories in and calories out. Not everyone has time to hit the gym. That’s where everyday life comes in handy. You know that slightly out-of-breath feeling you get when you’re scrubbing a tough stain on the floor or running to catch a plane? That feeling means you’re exercising your body hard enough to enjoy real health benefits. Making small adjustments in regular daily activities can give your metabolism a boost, slim your waistline and help you live longer.
This holiday season, incorporate these tips into your daily existence, and you’ll not only avoid gaining weight, you’ll be ready to jump on those New Year’s weight loss resolutions with ease.
1. Power Parking
Yes, the mall is packed, but just park already! No more scouting out the spot closest to the door. Park as far away as possible and walk quickly or even jog to the door. Get extra points (and burn more calories) by carrying your purchases back to the car rather than pushing them in a cart.
2. Stick with Stairs
You’ve heard it before, but are you doing it? Climbing stairs elevates your heart rate and works your core muscles and glutes. Run up the stairs for 10 minutes, and an average-size woman (132 pounds) will burn 150 calories. Or throw in some strength training by lugging your 2-year-old up the stairs and burn 80 calories. Taking the escalator at the mall? Don’t ride; take the stairs two by two.
3. Happy Horseplay
Playing with your kids can be a fun, easy and hardcore workout. They love to be tossed around, chased and twirled. Be the horse and let them hop on for a ride. Push them fast down the hall in the laundry basket. Play tag for 10 minutes and burn 50 calories. Kick a ball, play catch or roll them on the floor as you make steamroller sounds. You’re sure to be laughing and working so hard that you’ll have to stop and catch your breath. Go for round two or three after dinner and get the added benefit of tired kids who are ready for bed!
4. Pillow Pushups
Fun in the bedroom has many rewards. Not only will you and your spouse reconnect and feel closer, but you’ll burn 45 calories for every 10 minutes of passionate sex. Cuddling not included.
5. Home Improvement
Get the dual benefit of exercise and a better living space when you tackle home improvement projects with gusto. Feeling a little bored with your living room? Spend the afternoon trying new configurations with the furniture, and you’ll burn 60 calories for every 10 minutes of furniture moving. Go one step further by painting an accent wall; you’ll burn another 45 calories.
6. Yard Yoga
Pushing a lawn mower or a snow blower burns around 50 calories for every 10 minutes of effort you expend. Incorporate 10 to 20 lunges for each leg as you slowly push the mower or blower and feel the burn that comes with strength training. Draw your belly button to your spine (think abdominal awareness, not holding your breath) while you’re shoveling snow to keep the strain out of your back and give yourself a tighter tummy. Rake leaves instead of using a leaf blower, and you’ll burn 50 more calories every half hour.
7. Take a Stand
Standing requires you to use your core muscles and burns 36 more calories per hour than sitting. Choose to stand while talking on the phone, waiting for your plane to board or working at your computer (easier to do if you have a wireless laptop — but some work places will adjust your desk height). Even better than taking a stand, take a walk the next time you need to talk to a co-worker or neighbor rather than picking up the phone or sending an e-mail. CA
8. Power Play
Many recreational activities have devices that cut down on the energy you expend — so do yourself a favor and don’t use them. For instance, if you play golf, walk the course rather than renting a cart. Run after your own tennis ball rather than using a bucket of balls to work on your serve. Spending a lot of time at your kids’ soccer or football games? Don’t just sit there, walk the sidelines as they play the field.
9. Shop Till You Drop
Revamp your holiday shopping traditions and leave the kids and spouse home this year. Brisk walking around the mall (no sauntering or meandering) can burn between 3.5 and 7 calories per minute, depending on factors such as your age, metabolism and weight, says exercise physiologist Alex Jordan, MS, who runs the exercise laboratory at the Cooper Aerobics Institute in Dallas. Spend two hours scouring the stores for the perfect gift for your parents, and you'll have burned anywhere from 500 to 800 calories. Even better, take a trip to the car after every purchase to increase the benefit. Just make sure you don’t negate your hard work by downing a grande FrappaccinoA8 in the food court.
10. DIY
It’s time to fire the housekeeper and do it yourself. Don’t buy one of those automated robot vacuums or one that pulls and pushes for you. See a spot on the floor? Take 10 minutes to really scrub your floor — you’ll burn 55 calories. Instead of driving through the carwash, grab a rag and bucket for the benefit of 45 calories for every 10 minutes of elbow grease. Throw away the remote and get up to change the channel. Carry the groceries in from the car with a quick pace rather than waiting for your spouse or children to help you. Walk your dog at a healthy clip. Sprint to the mailbox. It all adds up to a healthier you
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