Between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, many people gain weight. Thanksgiving, followed by religious holidays including Christmas and Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day often involve celebrations that center around food. If you gained a few pounds over the past few months, here are seven ways to work them off and improve your fitness going into the spring and summer months of the year.
1. Take the Stairs
If your workplace has elevators, use the stairs instead. Stairs are great cardio. If you can take a 10-minute break during your workday, do the stairs then, too. When at the mall or a multi-story store, take the stairs instead of escalators.
2. Park in the Boonies
Instead of wasting time trying to get the closest possible parking spot, just park in the boonies of the parking lot. You will get more steps by parking a greater distance away from where you need to go. If you do this at work, the grocery store and other places you go, the steps will add up quickly.
3. Spring Clean
Now that winter is over, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. You might be surprised that house cleaning can burn a lot of calories. One hour of scrubbing dirty floors burns about 190 calories for a person who weighs 150 pounds. Some other household tasks that burn at least 150 calories per hour in a 150-pound person include moving furniture, gardening, raking leaves, using a push mower to cut the lawn, washing the car and cleaning the windows.
4. Get Rid of Clutter
Removing clutter from your home or apartment can also help you remove pounds from your body. Do a few laps of your home, collecting rubbish to go into the trash. Do a few more laps for collecting items to donate. Boxing up the donations, loading them into your vehicle and unloading them at the donation center burns an average of 150 calories per hour.
5. Try a New Workout
Even if you didn’t have a New Year’s resolution to join the gym, you can still try a new workout after the holidays. Try jumping rope, or do some resistance training with bands. Alternate high-intensity bursts of exercise, such as running as fast as you can, with moderate-paced walking. Vary your exercise in order to challenge your muscles and avoid overworking any specific area of your body.
6. Enjoy the Springtime
Go on a walk and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of spring. Stroll through a park and look at the new blossoms. Listen to the birds calling. Walking burns about 120 calories per hour for a 150-pound person.
7. Get Up
Plan to spend more time on your feet. Standing burns more calories and is better for your heart than sitting. Try to spend at least two hours per day on your feet.
