Featured on Shine:

5 Neat and easy ways to burn calories all day, every day!

partner

You know that friend, the one who is always tapping her leg, getting up to straighten the bookshelf, the one who generally just can’t sit still? She’s likely burning an extra 200 to 300 calories a day on top of any workouts she does or the amount of calories she burns just being alive. This process is neatly called NEAT, which stands for “NonExercise Activity Thermogenesis” (say that 5 times fast!), and it’s essential for successful weight loss. Basically, it’s the extra stuff you do, physically, all day long that adds up. Make a point to add more “neat” into your day and you can zap another 500 calories! Here are a few ideas:


Do crunches in bed: You could burn about 20 calories in under 5 minutes just by drawing your knees to your chest 25 to 50 times, plus it strengthens your abs and gets your blood pumping.

Check out these 10 ways to boost your calorie burn


Dance around while getting dressed: Turn up the radio or listen to upbeat music on your iPod (if you can) while doing all your morning rituals—an hour of hip shakin’ can burn about 55 calories.

Tired of the belly fat? Dance it off!

Stand up! Don’t sit when you can be on your feet—you’ll burn about 40% more calories. So just take a stand—when you’re on the phone, watching kids at the playground, making small talk at a party.


Laugh: Watch something that’s consistently funny (like 30 Rock) and you could burn about 40 calories if you guffaw for 10 to 15 minutes straight.

2 Minutes to a happier, healthier you!


Walk, pace, jog down the hall: In other words, MOVE! Doing little bits of activity all day—taking the stairs to use the restroom on another floor at work, doing an extra lap around the grocery store—can help you burn an additional 375 calories a day!



Get Motivated And Get Moving With Prevention Magazine:

Fight Fatigue With Exercise

13 Healthy Life Lessons To Teach Your Kids

Blast Fat With Yoga!


[photo credit: Getty Images]


 

  Afraid to face that swimsuit? Lose that winter weight with Liz and 2-Week Turnaround!






Having trouble slimming down? Sugar could be your problem. Find a new approach with The DTOUR Diet book -- Free for 21 days!

Related: weight loss, prevention magazine, meal plan, low fat, low cal, liz vaccariello, hunger, dieting, cut calories, calories

Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 172
  • Kimmy Kiddu's Avatar
    Posted by Kimmy Kiddu Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:51pm PDT

    i think i lose weight because i am always dancing for no reason..

    Report Abuse
  • carey's Avatar
    Posted by carey Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:59pm PDT

    me too, I'm always dancing while I cook or when im getting ready to go out, sometimes even when im brushing my teeth! its fun and gets the heart pumping.

    Report Abuse
  • Shanna's Avatar
    Posted by Shanna Fri Jul 3, 2009 8:09pm PDT

    WELL,I TEND TO LAUGHA LOT AT WORK,HOME,JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE!iM A TRUE GOOFBALL SO ANY ONE MAY LOSE UP TO 2-3 POUNDS JUST BEING AROUND ME:-)

    Report Abuse
  • Fawna L.'s Avatar
    Posted by Fawna L. Sun Jul 5, 2009 2:45pm PDT

    I am having trouble loosing weight because my feet and knees are not working well lately. They swell and hurt, possibly because I'm overweight, so I find it hard to jog run or even stand for very long, but your suggestion on leg lifts and crunches sounds good. I know the laughing is good for you in multiple ways.

    Report Abuse
  • bookluva's Avatar
    Posted by bookluva Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:25pm PDT

    Has anyone ever laughed 15 minutes straight? Is that even possible? I laugh in ten se cond bursts over te course of 15 minutes, but never straight!

    Report Abuse
  • Selassie's Avatar
    Posted by Selassie Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:46pm PDT

    It is a nice article and the tips are great for those who are able to do them regularly.

    Just as a response to Fawna L.; I'm not a weight loss expert, but I have had extensive amounts of training in various sports. If you are over weight and your knees and ankles are weak I would recommend working out at the pool. There are a number of joint strengthening routines that can be done in the water. The great thing about working out in the pool is the low amounts of impact it has on your joints and you don’t get as tired as quickly. Plus you can get a tan  (summer time). If you are serious about getting your health back to where it needs to be, I would seriously consider it if I were you Fawna L.

    Everyone, please be safe and enjoy every minute of your life.

    Report Abuse
  • long live tax relief and the conservative movement's Avatar
    Posted by long live tax relief and the conservative movement Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:49pm PDT

    once again, these are things we all know. even oper reminds us..............everyday. enough already.

    Report Abuse
  • long live tax relief and the conservative movement's Avatar
    Posted by long live tax relief and the conservative movement Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:50pm PDT

    i know a girl by the name of megan lord who danced so much @ work, she got fired.

    Report Abuse
  • La_Destroyerofhearts's Avatar
    Posted by La_Destroyerofhearts Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:04pm PDT

    Unless you have a horrible time losing weight, I'd say lots of these are true. I'm slim and I'm hyper and I burn lots of calories, but at the same time, I eat less too than a lot of people and more often, and the canady doesn't put too much weight on me lol! Kudos to those that are trying to lose lots of weight and have a good attitude about it..

    Report Abuse
  • Joy in Seattle's Avatar
    Posted by Joy in Seattle Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:04pm PDT

    Don't bank on it. Being active is great, but it's not going to give you that 500 calorie a day boost you were hoping for.

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 172

leave your comment

You must sign in to post a comment

Sign In for personalized information

New User? Sign Up

Let’s talk: Manage My Stuff Write a Post

Sponsored Links