It’s cold so it seems that we may be able to burn more calories just by keeping warm. Because your body has to work to stay warm it’s putting in more effort and burning more calories. As long as you refrain from those hearty carb laden comfort foods you can use it to your advantage. You can take it one step further it seems with cold drinks as well. I found a statistical analysis of the calories it takes to melt an ounce of ice. It seems that it’s the same amount as forty push-ups. For a cup of ice that’s 347 push-ups! Of course you could do the push-ups and then cool off with the ice.
TODAY: DO SOME PUSH-UPS. WELL… AT LEAST TRY TO!
You’ve probably got all the clocks changed to Standard Time by now. You might feel like you’re getting up too early. So it’s a good time to change up your exercise routine. It’s the best way to prevent a weight loss plateau. You ought to change it every 4 to 6 weeks. It will also reduce your boredom and keep you going. Since the weather is changing too, it will give you another reason to look for an alternative. So decide on new exercises, a new route to walk, new places to go and a new attitude. Just get out there!
TODAY: PICK A NEW EXERCISE ROUTINE FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
You may think that exercise equipment is too expensive or takes up too much space. Well maybe you already have some and don’t know it. You likely have a stepper. It’s right there, going between the floors of your house. Honest. It will work just like the machine. Maybe even better because it will actually take you somewhere! Try bringing in packages one at a time. Taking laundry downstairs piece by piece rather than filling up a basket full before heading down. Remember, when you weight less you’ll be carrying less too.
TODAY: GO UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS A FEW TIMES.
If you don’t get time to do a full workout, don’t give up. You only need 30 minutes a day, and it doesn’t have to all be at once. It only takes a mere 10 minutes at a time. Start with 10 when you wake up. 10 at lunch. And the last 10 in the evening, while watching TV is fine, or take a walk after dinner with your spouse or ride your bike with the kids. You may even have a basketball hoop at your house that has been ignored for a while. Take a few shots and dribble away some calories.
You get the idea. Now get motivated for a few minutes.
TODAY: GET 30 MINUTES OF EXERCISE.
I’ve told you about setting small goals. It starts you on your way to success and feeds your self esteem without feeding your belly. With the weekend here, take an hour today and go to the park. Any park will do, but maybe try one you haven’t been to in a long time… or ever. It will be good exercise and good for your brain as well. Explore, exercise and enjoy. It’s good for you in more ways than one.
TODAY: GO TO A PARK AND WALK.
Researchers have found out that walking slow can actually burn slightly more calories than mid-speed walking. Evidently when they looked at the motion of your body they found that you are basically stopping and starting with each step and momentum isn’t helping you along. At the other end of the spectrum, at very high walking speeds you use more muscle groups with arm motion and with a long stride. That burns extra calories. Running has lots of up and down motion that may burn more calories lifting your weight up off the ground and moving forward. Of course the aerobic exercise of a quicker pace has many benefits as well.
The big thing is that all walking will benefit your diet. Just do it! (Hey that’s catchy.)
TODAY: TAKE A WALK
I once visited a brand new huge health club that had two floors. The biggest surprise was that up on the second floor they had their stepper machines right at the top of the escalator that people rode to get there! That’s when I noticed that most of the spaces in the parking lot that were close to the building were the fullest.
Look for ways to add activity to your day. Park as far from the store as you can rather than looking for the closest space. Carry your grocery bags instead of using a cart. Use the stairs, not the escalator. You get the idea. It’s the easy way to burn more calories and get exercise.
TODAY: PARK WAY OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.
Daily Nag, Exercise | Diet Nag | 
January 11, 2011 6:00 am | 
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