6 Ways to Burn Extra Calories Without Hitting the Gym

While exercising and eating healthy will surely help you to 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 at Bright Side were curious to find out that there are some easy and “lazy” ways to burn calories, and some of them are just as effective as working out.

1. Taking hot showers

A hot shower is a nice way to relax in the evening and wash away stress. But as it turns out, spending up to one hour in a hot shower or bath can wash away extra pounds as well. When you’re showering in hot water, your body has to work harder to maintain its normal temperature, which, in turn, helps you to burn more calories. Studies have shown that taking an hour-long hot shower or bath can burn 130 calories and might be a good strategy for weight loss.

2. Drinking cold water

Staying hydrated is absolutely crucial for your overall health and well-being, but the way you drink your water can actually increase your calorie burn. If you prefer your water room temperature or warm, adding some ice cubes to it can actually help you shed a few pounds. When you drink cold water, your body has to warm it up to body temperature, which temporarily boosts your metabolism.

3. Sniffing vanilla

If you ever felt like the very smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies can make you gain weight, you will be relieved to find out that certain odors can actually contribute to weight loss. Researchers have found out that overweight people who wore vanilla-scented skin patches felt fewer cravings for sweets. If you don’t like the idea of wearing a patch, opt for a vanilla-scented perfume that will make you smell delicious and, as an added bonus, can suppress your appetite.

4. Doing chores

Washing the floors and doing the dishes may be annoying, but minor household activities can actually add up and help you lose weight and keep your home squeaky clean. Spending an hour washing and drying a full sink of dishes can help you burn 100 calories, and scrubbing your bathroom for 35 minutes burns as many calories as a 35-minute walk on the treadmill.

5. Drinking green tea

Green tea is full of antioxidants, and in addition to making your skin look younger, it can also effectively burn calories. Because it contains caffeine and catechins, it can boost your metabolism and help your body break down fat more easily. But just 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 actually help you lose weight. Just like sipping cold water, being in a cold room can have calorie-burning benefits. Studies have shown that being exposed to cold temperatures can trigger calorie burning and contribute to weight loss.

Have you ever heard of any of these ways to burn calories? Do you have any secrets that help you to stay in shape?