The holiday chores can be a burden. But this year, I encourage you to see them as a burn! Lets face it; we are suburban goddesses that have a million and one things to do. We don’t have time for every single item on our to-do list. Something’s gotta give, right? Well I’m happy to tell you that while you knock out your holiday to-do list, your workout will not be compromised.
Check out these holiday activities that burn calories and make you work up a sweat!
(All calorie counts are estimates based on a 135 pound person, and will vary with intensity, body composition and weight.)
- Shopping: Your biceps and triceps are on overdrive while carrying your shopping bags. Shopping burns up to 2.7 calories per minute, which is about 81 calories in 30 minutes! Do a couple extra bicep curls with your shopping bags while waiting in line. Take the stairs, do a couple of squats in the dressing room, and then some walking lunges down the clothing racks. A 5-oz serving of eggnog is 200 calories, so just remember to do some shopping after!
- Dancing: We all know that going to holiday parties is a must during this time of year. What you might not know is that your holiday shakedown dancing burns up to 6 calories per minute, and 179 calories in 30 minutes! How’s that for some holiday cheer?! Dancing is one of my personal favorite forms of exercise, so if there’s a dance floor at a party, I’m on it! And in the back of my mind I think – here’s for the peppermint bark, and here’s for the eggnog! So put on your dancing shoes and get out there!
- Cooking: As much as I love cooking, I am oftentimes exhausted afterwards. That is because you’re burning about 75 calories per hour! If you want to burn even more calories, try some push-ups against the kitchen counter while you wait for those onions to brown. Just remember to not snack too much on the food you’re preparing to avoid unnecessary calorie intake!
- Cleaning: The grueling chore of cleaning the dishes and mopping the floor counts as a workout! YAY! I’m happy to let you know that just 15 minutes may shed 50 calories! That’s 200 calories in an hour! Next time you’re at a friends house, volunteer to clean the dishes! Physical activity after a meal is a great way to kickstart your metabolism and begin using the food you just ate as fuel.
- Wrapping presents: It’s rewarding to give to others, but it’s even more rewarding to take care of your health. While wrapping presents, you get to do both! You burn an average of 2.1 calories per minute. 10 bows and 30 minutes later, you’ll rack up 63 calories!
