According to research, people who spend more time preparing meals are less likely to exercise, whether they are men or women. If you feel like you don’t have time to work out because of a busy schedule or taking care of children, you can burn calories while cooking. Additionally, if you tend to eat indulgent foods, incorporating physical activity into meal preparation can help balance out the effects of your diet. Check out some of the most effective ways to burn calories while cooking.
Here are some of the best ways to burn calories while you cook.
The Effective Ways To Calories Burned When Cooking
- Wipe down surfaces: Wiping down kitchen counters may sound boring and monotonous but when you wipe with gusto you can burn up to 20 calories an hour. Make your kitchen the cleanest and most hygienic it has ever been by vigorously wiping down the counters before you start preparing your meals. Scrub the counters well and agitate your hands as you clean. You can try listening to some fast, upbeat music while you clean for motivation to work out faster and harder.
- Skillet curls: Grab your heaviest skillet by the handle with one hand and do 10 bicep curls on each side. You can do lateral shoulder exercises when you have a minute to spare while preparing dinner.
- Sweeping/mopping/vacuuming is a great upper/lower body exercise. You should first choose the areas on the floor that are the dirtiest and work your way to the cleaner areas to get the best workout. If you do it this way, you’ll be burning 240 calories per hour. If you do this type of cleansing throughout the day, your calorie burn will increase and you’ll get a great workout. So, don’t be shy about sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming. These jobs will pay for you.
- Get Organized: Burn about 260 calories an hour simply by organizing closets and shelves, boxing up old clothes and unwanted items, and getting rid of clutter. A great excuse to spring clean all year long.
- Mix manually. Sure, it’s easier to blend your muffin or cake batter with an electric mixer, but you can cut a few calories if you do it by hand. Use a regular spoon and stir your ingredients by hand. Not only are you burning calories, but you’re also working the muscles in your arms.
- Slice and dice vigorously. Whenever your heart rate is elevated, you’re burning calories. Put your all into slicing and dicing, and you may burn some extra calories while preparing dinner. Granted, you can’t count on it as your only means of burning calories, but it can’t hurt, right? And when you’re done, you’re ready to make a delicious fajita dish or a delicious salad.
- Use pots and pans: Here’s something you might not have thought of when cooking your family’s meals. Before you add water or carrots to a pan, use this for a set of arm raises. Hold a pot in each hand and raise them above your head, completing a series of repetitions.
- Kitchen Sink Leg Lifts: Leg raises help shape your butt, hips, and thighs. You can do this exercise while you’re washing dishes (another great workout in the kitchen!) or while you’re waiting for your cake to cool. For the backward leg lift, keep your leg straight and lift it to about 90 degrees while bending forward. When your leg is at the top, it should be parallel to the kitchen floor. Repeat 10 times and then switch to the other leg. Do not let your foot touch the ground between repetitions. Alternate with side and forward leg lifts.
- Mash by hand: I have this great kitchen appliance called an immersion blender that makes quick work of large batches of guacamole, mashed potatoes, refried beans, and more. It’s fast and easy, but you can burn more calories by mashing them with an old-fashioned potato masher. You’ve probably felt the burning sensation in your arms that comes with mashing. Take this as your sign to know you’re getting a good workout.
Hence, these household chores are great ways to burn calories. However, if you are serious about losing weight fast, I highly recommend it.