what every day things can I do to burn up excess energy, without joining a gym or health club?

Question

I want to lose some weight, and keep it off, but I would like to do it through being active in my life, rather than being fussy with my food, and "dieting". Anyway, I like my food and eat sensibly. I don't want to join a gym or health club - too expensive and I would rather focus on what every day things I can integrate into my life to make it more active. I don't like "exercise". I work hard, long hours,sitting at a desk all day, and I watch about 3 hours of TV a day, in the evening. Does any one have any handy hints, or links to websites with handy tips? I've heard that standing burns more calories than sitting, which burns more than lying down - but I can't stand up at my desk all day! No rude answers please.

Answer 1

Running up and down the stairs is the biggest calorie burner. So when you think 'Oh I've left something upstairs' now you can think 'YAY! I've left something upstairs!' I think it burns about 395 calories if you run up and down the stairs 3 times. That's about as much as a Mars Bar. Maybe buy a bike and cycle to work, take the stairs instead of the lift, go for walks instead of drives. Now is the time to do these things because the good weather won't last long...

Answer 2

If you sit on one of those swiss balls apparently you have to balance and it burns more energy and improves your posture. Why are you so against movement anyway. If you change your attitude to the feeling of using your body to something that you enjoy and savour you would be more active because you would want to be. God gave us legs and lungs to move and breathe. You need to spend more time outside. Do you have to work behind a desk, you couldn't take a lunch break walk to a park and do work sitting in a beautiful place experiencing the world. Maybe you would be the type of person who enjoys doing pilates or yoga as they are less moving about and more slow and you can do the exercises as you watch tv. It is so easy to look at things and think no I couldn't face doing that but you don't know till you try it whether it is a pleasant or unpleasant experience.

Answer 3

I worked as business consultant, high stress, odd hours, mostly sedentary and watched TV at night or early morning to switch my brain off. Sensible eater, hated exercise. Here's the skinny: What will happen if you don't make time for exercise and weight training is that you will get flabby. You'll lose muscle mass and you'll get thicker without putting on weight. It happened to me and I had to work twice as hard once I hit 40 to get rid of it.
There is no quick and dirty solution. I can totally empathise about how you feel, but to think that by doing a few bicep curls at night in front of the tube you'll escape the flab is not realistic.
You will have to work out 3 days a week to keep stable That can be Sat and Sun and one weekday or any other combination. Honestly housework etc. doesn't build muscle and as you get older, you'll lose it at a faster rate...
I got myself out of this rut by hiring a personal trainer who worked with me for 6 months, 3 days a week to get over the bad (sedentary) habits. After that, I did my own thing. By having the guy come over or meet him at his location, I forced myself into discipline. Now, if a trainer is too expensive, have a good friend or family member help you with the discipline end of it. Hope this helps.
Best of luck.

Answer 4

There is lots of things you can do , silly little things like dont use the car when going to shop or going up stairs a few extra times for things , when you are making tea you could do a few things like touch ya toes or just have the radio on a have a dance ya might feel funny but so what .
make it fun what ever you do and you will enjoy it more and when you start losing a bit of weight and feeling good you can start doing a little more.

Answer 5

At your desk make sure you ive up these snasks! Have fruits instead and take less caffein as it will make you feel hungry. Then here's an exercise for your buttocks that no one will notice. As you sit on your chair, tense your buttock muscles then relax, do it in series of 10 every so often. It really works!

At home do the chair bend! Put your arms on a chair then flex your knees and fo fown. Do it in series of ten as well. You can also use your stairs as a step class! One leg on second step, one leg down and jump to change leg!

Housework is a great way to tone up as well! Go for some energetic window cleaning, mopping etc. And when doing your ironing? Stick some music on and dance on your feet as you iron!

When watching TV keep up with your buttocks muscles (As at the office) And using two tins of 1 lb food in each hand, make those arms go up and down and up and down etc.

Why not watch TV sitting/lying on the floor? You can then move your legs up, slowly, keep them up for a few seconds then bring them down in steps, holding on for a few seconds at a time.

Then use the radiator or table as a bar! One leg up, move your head as close as you can to it, then repeat with the other leg.

There are so many things you can do at home! You wouldn't believe!

Hope these help you get started.

Best wishes

Answer 6

Exercise is free. You do not need to spend money for it.
However, what you want is a "sport", something that can be social and physically healthy at the same time.
There are numerous options, for you to get involved in some kind of sport, decide what you like and go for it, and then try something else if you do not like it.
As far as your diet goes, go ahead and eat what you want, but try eating heathy "Just one time a day" it will make a difference.

Answer 7

A healthy lifestyle encompasses many things:
Eating healthy foods
Avoid excessive fats, sugar, and alcohol
No nicotine
Drink plenty of water
Exercise.
Spiritual Wholeness
Mental Alertness
Emotional Balance
See what is healthy, unhealthy and the exercise needed to maintain it.

http://www.mjbovo.com/GenMed/HealthyLifestyle.htm

Answer 8

it sounds like you are very busy andit is good that you want to keep fit. three times a week do a full body workout only takes half an hour and you can do it with limited equipment. biceps: barbewll curls, triceps:skullcrushers, back:bent over rows, shoulders:overhead press, chest: flat bench press. there are many benefits, you will be less tired at work, you will be physically and mentally stronger, and have a muscular frame with virtually no fat. do this 3-4 days a week for best rtesults, mix it up a little. remebere you can do all this with virtually one barbell loaded with weight at your home.

Answer 9

Yup good question, go to your local GNC and get some whey protein, it really is the best stuff out there. Incorporate that into your diet along with regular moderate excercise, walking, biking w/e, but protein burns twice as many calories to digest, it's kinda funny that way, idk look it up on the net, and whey protein has many other benefits as well, it isn't necessarily for body building. I used it for months on a serious running regime, mainly to keep my ligaments healthy, and i lost 20lbs without trying really, but you should consult a physician as well though just in case you have doubts about whatever you try.

Answer 10

Your main problem for putting on weight is a sedentary lifestyle. either you are in front of the the PC or TV that too eight hours a day. what do you expect. start walking for a start and eat only non spicy and non fat foods. keep off chocolates icecreams fast food etc. have yoghurt and green salad. and take lots of fruits and parboiled vegetables. and start light excercises.