Going to workout doesn’t have to be viewed as a chore. It’s not something that you have to do because you just downed a ton of calories. Take the pressure off of going to the gym, so you can have a little bit more fun. The gym is not the only place where you can trim your waistline and get healthier. The choices that you make outside the gym can actually have an even greater impact. The small changes that you make in your lifestyle add up, and you won’t be disappointed. Try out these 8 ways to burn calories without stepping foot into a gym.
1 – Find A Hobby
There are tons of fun activities that involve movement and calorie expenditure. Be as creative as you want. As long as you’re moving around it’s probably good for you. Paddle boarding, parkour, and even bird watching are a few creative hobbies that you can look into. You can make them as active as you want and most importantly, they’re FUN!
2 – Ditch The Car
Don’t depend on a car to haul you around everywhere. Especially if it’s not that far to work or the grocery store, save some gas by taking a bike. Even if the trips are short, the calories that you burn will add up. Biking to the gym is a great way to warm-up. You will be ready to jump right into the workout as soon as you get there.
3 – Get Plenty Of Sleep
Getting an ideal amount of sleep has numerous health benefits. One of them is saving you from a few extra calories. Studies show that people who get more sleep tend to eat less junk food. One of the most popular times to gorge on those foods are late at night when you’re bored, or just mindlessly watching TV. Instead of staying up late every night, make going to bed at a reasonable time a priority. You will notice that your body feels better, and looks better.
4 – Share Food
One of my good friends just recently lost about 30 pounds in the last year. The ironic thing is that he absolutely despises the gym. In addition, he also eats at restaurants on a consistent basis. The secret to his weight loss was simply decreasing the amount of food that he ate. One of the ways that he did this was by sharing food with his wife every time they went to a restaurant. It will save your calorie consumption and keep your wallet a little thicker. Find out secrets to eating less by checking out 7 Unbelievably Easy Ways To Decrease Portion Sizes
5 – Limit Your Food Choices
Chipotle and 5 Guys are two restaurants that have a couple things in common. The first thing, is that they are both very successful. The second, is that they both have very simple menu options. Hungry diners choose to go to those restaurants because there is no guess work involved. Not to mention, that the food on the menu is made extraordinarily well.
Don’t automatically assume that I am condoning the consumption of burgers and burritos everyday (although they are great places to get a cheat meal). I’m simply using their menus as an example for your meal choices at home. Find healthy foods that you actually like to eat and stick to those. It will make grocery shopping less time consuming. You will find yourself cooking at home more and loving your meals.
6 – Have A Cheat Meal
Eating healthy all the time will drive anyone crazy. Once or twice a week give yourself an opportunity to splurge on a meal that you don’t normally have. This will give you something to look forward to. Most extreme diets fail because they give you no wiggle room. That would make anyone want to quit, and then relapse on piles of junk food. Cheat meals are an effective way to reward yourself for eating healthy most of the time. As long as the cheat meals are normal portion sizes they are completely fine.
7 – Limit Electronics
Games, computers, Ipads, and cell phone apps are surrounding us constantly. It can be a huge obstacle in between you and an active lifestyle. A large number of kids these days stay inside and piddle around with game consoles rather than running around outside with their friends. Electronics have obvious benefits, but not in excess. If you limit the electronics that you own, you will also be limiting the temptations that keep you away from the gym and the outdoors.
8 – Take The Stairs
This is one of the most common pieces of health advice that is never used. In every airport, office building, and shopping mall, more people choose the elevator or escalator over the stairs. Is it really that big of an effort to climb a few flights of stairs? Next time don’t follow the crowd to the second floor. Our bodies were designed to walk, so use your legs. A few walks up and down stairs may seem insignificant, but they add up over time.
Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to burn all your calories at the gym. If you live a lifestyle that promotes activity, then the gym will end up being less of a chore. Apply these 8 ways to burn calories without stepping foot into a gym. If you need a boost to get you started, here are 15 Motivating Quotes For A Healthy Lifestyle. If you liked this article, take a few seconds to share it on facebook with your friends.
About Adam Pegg
