14 Simple Ways to Burn Calories Without Going to a Gym

Many people claim they don’t have time to fit a workout into their schedule, and going to the gym is time-consuming and costly. Instead of finding simple ways to cut or burn calories, many people just forego exercise all together.

It is common knowledge that exercise is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, but in a busy world, sometimes a gym membership is not ideal.

Instead of giving up completely and remaining a couch potato, there are simple ways to burn calories without joining a gym. These twenty activities can easily fit into anyone’s daily routine.

This is a really simple way to burn a few extra calories. Instead of taking the elevator up 2 or 3 floors, use the stairs. Stairs provide a great way to get a little extra burn in your thighs and gluteus muscles.

Your heart rate will also rise as you bound each flight of stairs.

We have all heard this tip, but how many people do this instead of driving around the parking lot for 10 minutes looking for that perfect close-up spot?

As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  By kickstarting you metabolism and “breaking the fast”, you will be less hungry throughout the day and have more energy.

 This is such an easy way to burn a couple hundred calories.  Take 20 minutes or so and go for a walk around your neighborhood or at the mall.

As you are sit on the couch flipping through your 350 channels, rotate your wrist while holding your remote in the air.

This builds up your forearms and muscles around your wrist.

By eating small meals every few hours, your body will keep your metabolism at a steadier rate.  It will make you less likely to gorge at the end of the day.

As you blow dry your hair, make dinner, read your mail, or fold your laundry, knock out a few squats.  Working your legs will build up your large muscles, which will require your body to burn more calories.

Another great way to burn calories and increase muscle tone is by using your own body weight.  You can do this easily with good old-fashioned push-ups each day.  Start slowly and work your way up to 20 or more reps a day.

A simple way to increase muscle tone in 15 minutes or less is to complete an abdominal routine.  There are plenty of ab workouts that provide you with a solid core.

As you watch TV, do arm circles.  Rotating your arms builds up your rotator cuff muscles and other shoulder muscles.

Take a few laps at work, around the house, at the mall, or wherever you spend your day. Picking up the pace will increase your heart rate, which will burn more calories.

Wear a pedometer. Each day, try to increase the amount of steps you do throughout your day.

Adding a few extra steps each day will eventually lead to increases in calorie burning.

 Spend the first 5 minutes of your day just moving around.  Do jumping jacks, lunges, squats, or just run around your house or even better a quick jog in the neighborhood.  Even 5 minutes is a good jumpstart to your day.

By wearing a heart rate monitor, you will be able to get a clear gauge on how many calories an activity burns.

Each day, try to increase the amount of calories you burn throughout your day. Also, increase the amount of time your heart rate is in the "zone."

While these ideas are not a substitute for a moderate to rigorous workout routine, they are simple and easy to do on a daily basis when you just can’t find the time to do more.