We all know that aerobic activities, like running, skiing, swimming, and tennis increase your heart rate and burn off calories. But, did you know that you could also lose weight and boost energy without ever leaving your house? If you ever feel winded by moving furniture or scrubbing your kitchen floor, then you’re exercising hard enough to enjoy real health benefits - in numerical terms, burning 4.5 or more calories in a minute if you weigh about 130 pounds, or 6 calories a minute if you weigh about 180. (Remember, the heavier you are, the more calories an activity burns).

To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you’re taking in. To lose one pound of fat, you need to burn off 3,500 calories. That means if you burn about 200 calories a day beyond your normal output by doing common activities like washing a car or pushing a lawn mower, you’ll lose a pound of fat in less than 3 weeks. Now add this calorie burning to a healthy diet and you’ll cut your risk of disease and live longer without ever walking into a gym!

Common Activities:  (Calories burned per 10 minutes*)         

Walking fast: (60 calories)      
Painting: (60 calories)
Weeding: (60 calories)
Washing a car: (60 calories)
Playing tag with a child: (65 calories)
Cleaning gutters: (65 calories)
Pushing a lawn mower: (70 calories)  
Scrubbing floors: (70 calories)
Biking to work: (75 calories)
Moving furniture: (75 calories)
Walking up stairs: (85 calories)       
Carrying a 2 year old upstairs: (95 calories)                

* Based on a 180 pound individual.          
Always consult a physician before begining a diet or exercise program.