| Health
and fitness expert Covert Bailey once said "Fit people
waste their energy while unfit people save their energy."
The trick is to find ways to waste your energy while carrying
out your routines. "Human effort" energy is like time:
You can't save it to use at a later date. The old saying
says it best; "If you don't use it you lose it."
The
following are 10 ways you can burn calories and get
your tasks done by wasting some of your stored energy.
Mow
with the flow. Mow the lawn with a push mower. You
can save "fossil fuel" energy and doing it manually
will burn off last nights' dessert.
Step
it up. Use the stairs instead of the elevator or
escalator. Not only will you burn calories but you will
have the stairs all to yourself.
Work
with me. Walk or ride a bike to work if possible.
I have a friend who works two blocks from home and he
drives to work each day. If you commute on mass transit,
get off at the previous stop and walk the rest of the
way.
Park
and shop. What do most of us do when we go shopping?
We look for the cherished parking spot nearest to the
store entrance. Some of us continue to drive in circles
until the perfect spot becomes available. Why not park
away from the crowd? You will burn calories by walking
and save your car from parking lot dents and dings.
Home
work. Do your housework with vigor. Put on your
favorite music with an up-beat tempo and work at a much
quicker pace.
Walk
this way. Go for a walk. Take a friend, neighbor,
co-worker or a dog (yours or a neighbors) and go for
a brisk walk. It is low impact, convenient and free.
Clean
it up. Wash your dishes by hand. By cleaning them
manually and at a quick tempo you burn calories and
save on your electric bill (especially in California)
Rake
it in. Raking leaves at a vigorous pace for 20 minutes
is the equivalent of running one mile.
Drink
it down. Drink eight pints of ice water a day. According
to "Men's Health" magazine your body will expend 123
calories of heat daily to warm the water to body temperature.
That amounts to losing a pound a month.
Eat
breakfast. According to research at Duke University,
those who skip breakfast eat more later and choose foods
higher in fat and calories.
The
bottom line: Look at the routines you currently
maintain. See if you can find creative ways to continue
doing what you already do, only with added health benefits.
You will find it much easier done than said.
This
article was submitted by Steve Kendall. |