While exercising and eating
healthy will surely help you stay fit, there are other, more unusual ways to
burn calories. Most of them won't take much time, and when done regularly,
they'll help you stay in shape without spending hours at the gym.
We were curious to learn that there are some "lazy" ways
to burn calories that are just as effective as working out.
1. Taking hot showers
A hot shower is a good way to relax and wash away stress in the
evening. However, it turns out that spending up to an hour in a hot shower or
bath can also help you lose weight. Showering in hot water forces your body to
work harder to maintain its normal temperature, increasing calorie burn.
According to studies, an hour-long hot shower or bath can burn 130 calories, making
it an effective weight-loss technique.
2. Drinking cold water
Staying hydrated is important for your overall health and
well-being, but how you drink your water can help you burn more calories. If
you want your water to be room temperature or warm, adding some ice cubes can
help you lose weight. When you drink cold water, your body must warm it to body
temperature, temporarily boosting your metabolism.
3. Sniffing vanilla
If you ever felt like the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip
cookies can make you gain weight, you will be relieved to find out that certain
odors can contribute to weight loss. According to research, overweight people
who wore vanilla-scented skin patches had fewer sweet cravings. If you don't
like wearing a patch, opt for a vanilla-scented perfume that will make you
smell delicious and, as a bonus, can suppress your appetite.
4. Doing chores
Washing the floors and doing the dishes may be annoying, but minor
household activities can add up and help you lose weight and keep your home
squeaky clean. An hour washing and drying a full sink of dishes burns 100
calories, while scrubbing your bathroom for 35 minutes burns the same amount of
calories as a 35-minute treadmill walk.
5. Drinking green tea
Green tea is high in antioxidants, and it can help you burn
calories while also making your skin look younger. It can boost your metabolism
and help your body break down fat more easily because it contains caffeine and
catechins. But one cup of green tea a day won't do it; studies have shown that
you need 3 to 5 glasses a day to see the results.
6. Turning the heat down
As it gets colder outside, we naturally want to turn on the heater, but keeping your room cool can help you lose weight. Like sipping cold water, being in a cold room can have calorie-burning benefits. Studies have shown that exposure to cold temperatures can trigger calorie burning and contribute to weight loss.