On days when you don’t have the time or energy for a lengthy exercise session, there are still ways to get that heart rate going and burn some calories… It all adds up! Here are a dozen simple ways to burn 100 calories in 30 minutes or less.
If you’ve got 10 minutes…
Climb the stairs. This one’s ideal for anyone in a building with several stories, but it's fine even if you've just got one staircase to work with. Bonus: It’s a great way to refresh your brain during a long work day.
Go for a quick bike ride. At a vigorous pace, you don't have to spend a ton of time on your two-wheeler to burn some serious calories. And, yes, stationary biking counts!
Run for it. It doesn't get much simpler than this. Running might seem intimidating, but you can do anything for 10 minutes! Log a mile or so for a quickie calorie burn.
Get elliptical. If you've got access to gym equipment, the elliptical machine is a great choice, especially if your knees aren't up for stair climbing or running. You’re just three songs away from a 100-calorie burn.
If you’ve got 20 minutes...
Low-impact aerobics. Channel your inner old-school Olivia Newton-John, and let’s get physical! Cue up a video, like one of the freebies at
Fitness Blender. Legwarmers optional… but encouraged.
Tend to your garden. Crouch, pull weeds, repeat. Take a solid 20 minutes to give the outdoors some TLC. Your body and your rose bushes will thank you!
Rearrange furniture. Change up your indoor arrangement and get your sweat on. Been wondering how your living room would look with the couch on the other side of the room? Give it a go! (Recruit a helper when you need one.)
Just dance. Pop on your favorite playlist, and bust a move! Keep it upbeat to get your blood pumping, and don't worry about looking silly… Okay, maybe pull the blinds closed just in case.
If you’ve got 30 minutes…
Walk it out. How you do it doesn't matter! Walk around the house, hit the park, walk the dog, do laps around your office building… whatever, wherever. As long as you get to stepping for half an hour, that 100-calorie burn is yours for the taking.
Yoga break. No time for a 90-minute class? Same. Again, we turn to the Internet for
the perfect online class to suit our needs. 30 minutes of home yoga is totally doable.
Lift some weights. Yes, really! Strength training isn’t just for building muscles -- it burns calories. Even light weightlifting benefits your body big time. If you're not a gym person, get
a set of hand weights or
resistance bands for at-home workouts.
Clean the house. No, absentmindedly wiping down the coffee table while you lounge on the couch doesn’t count! Mop, vacuum, scrub the tub… Clean it like you mean it, and calories will be burned!
HG FYI: The calories burned per time frame in this email are estimates for a 150-pound person. To calculate these numbers based on your exact weight, use a fitness calculator like this one by
MyFitnessPal!
Fan Favorite Amazon Find: ODODOS Side Stitch Yoga Pants with Pocket
Ready to get your sweat on? These leggings were featured in our
Best Amazon Fitness Finds roundup, and HG readers flipped over them!
The capri-style yoga pants are comfortable, thanks to stretchy material and a high waistband, and they’re actually flattering (because we all know they’re not just for exercising). Bonus: They’ve got two phone-sized pockets. Cute, comfy, AND useful? What’s not to love?! Now for the hard part: deciding which color to try first…
CLICK TO SHOP!
FYI: As an Amazon Associate, we may receive compensation from some of these links.
We may receive affiliate compensation from some of these links. Prices and availability are subject to change.
We may have received free samples of food, which in no way influences whether these products are reviewed favorably, unfavorably, mentioned with indifference, or mentioned at all. Click for more about our editorial and advertising policies.
*The WW Points® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by WW International, Inc., the owner of the Points® trademark.
Questions on the WW Points® values listed? Click here.
Hungry Girl provides general information about food and lifestyle. This information and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Click here for more information.
