Weight loss can often be simplified down to a basic equation; calories in must equal less than calories out. While working out how many calories we are putting into our bodies is relatively simple, trying to work out how many are going ‘out’ can sometimes make things a little bit more complicated.
When we think about burning calories, our thoughts usually drift towards exercise as being the logical way to neutralise that which we’ve eaten. Exercise is a great way to burn calories, but it’s not the only way our bodies use the energy from food. Our basal metabolic rate refers to the number of calories we burn, just by being alive. Our bodies are actually using calories constantly as we eat, drink, walk, talk and even sit typing at the computer. It is thought that your basal metabolic rate accounts for around 60% of the calories burned in the average person.
This leaves us with the need to work through or burn off 40% of the calories we consume. Looking at it this way helps make things seem a little easier and more attainable as the thought of having to burn off 2000 calories (if that was what your daily suggested intake was) can be very daunting!
Regular exercise, as discussed above, is a great way to work through some of that 40% but there are also a whole range of other activities that you can incorporate into your day to help shift the excess. These activities don’t need expensive gym gear or equipment but can instead become part of your everyday routine.
By combining some of these activities with exercise and a healthy diet, you should be well on your way to losing the weight that you want.
Burn 100 calories by:
- Vacuum for 30 minutes
- Take the stairs 3 times a day
- Push your stroller for 40 minutes
- Walk to the local park and fly a kite with your little ones for 20 minutes
- Sing and dance along to the radio for five songs (burn even more by including your kids in the action)
- Hit the shops and push your trolley around for 40 minutes (you’ll burn more in less time with a toddler in tow)
- Take a long shower (25-35 minutes), complete with hair-washing, body scrubbing, leg shaving and post shower drying and moisturising.
- Art and craft – 35 minutes of painting actually burns more than 100 calories!
- Walk and talk – Spend part of your day standing up (not sitting down) and you’ll burn double the calories. As easy way to do this is to pace while you chat on the phone or if you’re at work, walk to a colleagues desk instead of sending them an email.
- Get organised – Put away the groceries, tidy the loungeroom or sort out your workspace for a burst of calorie burning.
Get Our Exercise DVD
And for the ULTIMATE SAFE, EFFECTIVE & TRUSTED Post Pregnancy Workout – see our EXPERT Post Pregnancy Exercise DVD below – you can purchase and see more information on it here
The DVD can be followed by all mums (for example new mums or mums with older children) and can be followed by someone with a basic or a more advanced level of fitness.
Lisa Westlake is our incredible fitness instructor and postnatal exercise specialist throughout the DVD. With her extensive physiotherapy experience and qualifications (Lisa is one of the most awarded fitness professionals in Australia), Lisa is the perfect fitness instructor to bring The Healthy Mummy Post Pregnancy Exercise DVD to life – you will love working out with her. (You can see our Q&A with Lisa with commonly asked questions on the DVD here)
The exercises in The Healthy Mummy Post Pregnancy Exercise DVD are effective and safe and Lisa will guide you through each of the workouts. As well as assisting in the improvement of your overall fitness levels, the workouts in the DVD will also help in the burning of calories, the improvement of your core strength and the strengthening of your pelvic floor.
The six workouts are broken down into 10 and 15 minute sections that you can do when it suits you – or if you have the time and energy you can do the DVD as one 70 minute continuous workout. The Healthy Mummy Post Pregnancy Exercise DVD also covers special considerations post-birth, such as caesarean sections, back strains, muscle separation, incontinence and pelvic floor issues.
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And don’t forget to check out our current promotions and discounts page to see what specials we have on this week on our Healthy Mummy product range