If you have made a personal goal to lose weight, exercise and get fit, part of your routine should be about finding great ways to burn calories. A healthy diet, and approximately thirty minutes of vigorous exercise most days of the week, are the best combination to use in order to burn the maximum amount of calories, and to boost your metabolism. Most of us know the usual ways to burn calories: brisk walks, hitting the gym, or riding a bike. But here, you will find some great calorie-burning techniques you may not have tried.
Breakfast is Good!
We've heard it a thousand times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, it turns out that the old saying is true after all. A healthy breakfast will give a jump-start to your day, providing the energy you need, and kick-starting your metabolism into work-mode. The best breakfast foods include protein, high-fiber whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Your body will know that it is time to begin burning those calories.
Early Workouts
Did you know that exercising first thing in the morning will help you to burn more calories than if you work out later in the day? The added benefits are that early exercise can wake you up, give you more energy for the day, and ease your mind of any stress that could put a damper on your mood. On the other hand, if you are not a morning person, get your exercise whenever you can. Any exercise is good exercise!
Extra Physical Activity
You don't have to do a heavy workout in order to burn calories efficiently. Any extra activity you do throughout the day will boost your calorie-burning ability. Take your dog for an early-morning walk. Play outdoors with your children, or accompany them on a bike-ride. Use part of your lunch break at work to walk a few flights of stairs, or just walk the halls. Even stepping up your housecleaning routine can get those calories burning.
Drink That Water!
Yes, we are all tired of hearing it: you must drink eight glasses of water daily for optimal health. But, maybe we hear it so often because it is true. Drinking plenty of water actually helps you to burn calories by keeping your body hydrated, keeping your systems running smoothly, and keeping your metabolism charged to the maximum. In fact, drinking water is one of the easiest ways you can burn calories, and it fills you up as well!
Get Your ZZZZZZZ's
Did you know that a proper sleep routine can keep your metabolism burning calories efficiently, and that not getting enough can cause low-energy, and weight gain? By getting enough good-quality sleep, usually eight hours, you will be keeping your metabolism running smoothly, your body burning calories more efficiently, and you can reap all these benefits while you are peacefully sleeping!
If you love to hit the gym for some good cardio exercise and weight training, by all means, do so. You will burn a lot of calories that way. But, if you are like many people who don't have time to go to a gym, try these calorie-burning ideas for a change-of-pace!