Eat Well
Be Active
Recipes
Mini-triathlons
Household Olympics
You know those repetitive, boring jobs you have to do around the house every day? Things such as laundry, the dishes, picking up messes, and pushing a vacuum? Well, those tasks happen to qualify as moderate exercise and are really helpful at building strength, endurance, and flexibility. And, because you're doing such a variety of jobs all day long, your whole body gets a workout. We'll show you how you can combine some of what you have to do with regular exercise and really get in a good workout when you don't have time to go to the gym.
Home Fitness Complex
You can make any household work aerobic by changing the way you approach each task. Scrub more vigorously, combine squats with weeding, and push yourself to make every activity pay off. If you have a bunch of small things to cross off of your list, do them back-to-back and add in some jumping jacks or sit-ups. It doesn't have to all be work, though. Sweep the floors, and then play outside with your kids or tend to your hobby for a while before washing the windows. If you think about it as your workout for the day instead of as a chore, it'll feel less like one.
Burn, Baby, Burn
Cleaning the windows burns 153 calories. Washing dishes works off 76. Doing laundry: 72. Raking leaves: 171. And scrubbing the floors melts 189 calories away.* All of these add up. Even cooking burns calories. Just clump what needs to get done together and pick up the pace. You'll burn more calories if you scrape, scrub, brush, polish, and play more vigorously, and guess what… you'll be done sooner, too!
* Based on a 150-pound person and 30 minutes of activity Little Extras
Sweep the neighbor's sidewalk while you're at it. Water plants with a watering can instead of a hose. If you just need a couple of things from the store, walk or ride a bike. Wash your car by hand instead of taking it to the car wash. Put your headphones on and dance between duties. Instead of tearing through everything that needs to get done, draw it out and try to enjoy it on a physical level. Chores never end, so you might as well try to enjoy them to some extent. Plus, when you're done with your workout, your windows will shine, your clothes will smell fresh, and your garden will look beautiful. How many people straight from the gym can say that?
Topics:
Exercise Advice, Motivation
|
 |
email
print
©ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Start Making Choices does not provide medical advice.
Information is intended for educational purposes only. See additional information.
Break out your slow cooker. Slow cooking allows you to use less expensive cuts of meat while retaining great flavor and texture.
