Move and Use More Calories

Move — and you use more calories. Not exactly surprising news. But, did you know little things done throughout the day can add up to help with your weight?

If you’re counting the calories of the food you eat, consider counting the calories you use.

• At work take a 5 minute break from sitting every 1/2 hour and you’ll use up 132 calories over an 8 hour day.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator and you’ll use 5 more calories per flight. You consume half that number walking down a flight. 
• Rocking in a rocking chair as you watch television, for example, doubles the calories you use just sitting there: 150 calories in an hour versus 80 just sitting still.
• Fidget while sitting (reading, computer work, moving hands and foot tapping) you’ll use 118 per hour versus 80 sitting still.
• Fidget while standing (walking around, answering telephones, folding sheets, interacting with a pet) and you’ll use 148 calories per hour versus 87 standing still.
• When the commercial comes on during your television viewing, stand up and walk in place or walk around the house. You’ll use 70 more calories in an hour.
• Get a wearable fitness tracker or use your SmartPhone to track your steps every day. Add 2,00 steps to your normal day to maintain your weight. Take 10,000 steps/day and you’ll lose 10 pounds in 8 months by taking.

Most of all, as you move be aware you’re doing something that is beneficial. Such mindfulness helped motel maids lost an average of two pounds at the end of a month. In addition, their blood pressure dropped an average of 10 points.