Don’t get lazy and flabby during quarantine! Some couch potato stuff, reading books and long naps are good; but sitting around feeling anxious or frightened will make you crazy. Get up, look around and find something to do that needs doing.
While moving around in the house and garden, you can lift your spirits, but also burn calories.
Gyms are closed because of Covid-19. Social distancing is the norm. You can burn calories when you do chores around the house or in the yard. House or yard work can boost your metabolism and help manage your weight.
Vacuum Carpets and Floors
Pushing your vacuum cleaner around every room in the house requires some serious calories. Vacuuming for 30 minutes zaps 99 calories if you’re 120 pounds, 124 calories if you’re 150 pounds, and 166 calories if you’re 200 pounds. Do dance moves or lunges while you push to pump up the burn.
Wash the Car
Fill up a bucket with soapy water and give your ride’s exterior and windows a thorough cleaning to work up a sweat. Washing the car by hand for 30 minutes burns 135 calories.
Make and Change the Beds
If you have several bedrooms in your house, don’t let them stay messy. Changing the linens takes some energy. Stripping and remaking beds for 30 minutes torches 187 calories if you weigh 125 pounds and a whopping 300 calories if you weigh 200 pounds.
Play With Your Children
A fun family workout is good for your body and spirit. Even if you only do a little work, 30 minutes of play time burns 120 calories if you weigh 125 pounds and 178 calories if you weigh 200 pounds. Ramp up to serious horseplay, and you’ll zap 30 or more extra calories per outing.
Clean Up After a Meal
Everyone loves eating a home-cooked meal, but if you hit the sofa once it’s time to do the dishes, you’ll miss a great workout. 30 minutes of washing dishes by hand and cleaning up the kitchen with moderate intensity gets rid of 187 calories if you weigh 125 pounds and 300 calories if you weigh 200 pounds.
Walk Your Dog
If lockdown rules allow it, take your four-legged buddy for a stroll and you’ll both benefit. Walking for 30 minutes at just 4 miles per hour, or a 15-minute mile, chews up 135 calories if you’re 125 pounds and 200 calories if you’re 200 pounds. Rev up to 4.5 miles per hour, and you’ll burn 150 calories at 125 pounds and 222 calories at 200 pounds.
Get Into the Garden
Just 30 minutes of pulling weeds cuts 139 calories for a 125-pound person and 205 calories for a 200-pound person. Plant some new trees for even more exercise: It burns 135 calories if you’re 125 pounds and 200 calories if you’re 200 pounds. Gardening is also a great way to strengthen and build muscles.
www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise
