14 Painless Ways to Burn Calories & Lose Weight

1. Breathe

What could be less painless than breathing? We naturally burn calories just by breathing. When our breathing rate increases, from physical activity, for example, we burn even more calories.

2. Chew Gum

Chewing gum after or between meals seems to increase your metabolic rate. On average, chewing gum can burn approximately 11 calories an hour. Choose a sugarless gum otherwise, you are defeating the purpose with the added calories. If you can walk and chew gum at the same time, you get extra credit.

3. Drink Ice Water

Drinking ice water has been shown to temporarily increase the body’s calorie-burning power. Drinking 8 pints of ice water every day will cause your body to burn, on average, an additional 120 calories as it works to warm the water to body temperature. The next time you fill your water bottle, make sure to add some ice, the colder the better.

4. Take the Stairs

You will exert more energy by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. The little extra energy used by taking the stairs translates into more calories burned.

5. Stand Up

Stand up instead of sitting whenever possible. Whether you are at home or at work, stand up when talking on the phone. If you have a standing desk, use it more often. Try setting a timer to remind you to stand up for a few minutes every hour. If you are sitting in front of the television, stand up during the commercials. TIP: Don’t walk to the kitchen for a snack

6. Walk Faster

Just picking up the pace slightly when walking can increase the number of calories you burn. On average, a person weighing between 140-160 pounds can burn about 60 calories walking at a moderate pace for 15 minutes. That same person can burn 100 calories walking at a fast pace.

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7. Eat Small, Frequent Meals

Your body must work harder to digest food. Therefore, every time you eat, your metabolism gets a boost. Conversely, long periods without eating can slow down your metabolism. The slower your metabolism, the fewer calories you burn at rest. The best way to sneak in a couple of extra meals is to have a nutritious snack that includes protein. Try scooping up some peanut butter with apples or carrots. TIP: It would be helpful to log your meals to prevent consuming too many calories.

8. Drink Green Tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages to drink. That is why it is considered a superfood. Drinking green tea can give your metabolism a boost and increase fat burning. It has been suggested that green tea can help people burn 3-4% more calories each day.

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9. Sleep

Most people burn anywhere from 40-55 calories every hour they are sleeping. Poor quality sleep and lack of sleep can negatively affect metabolism. Also, when you don’t get proper sleep, your brain sends hunger signals which may cause you to consume more calories. So, do yourself a favor and make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

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10. Fidget

Remember your parents always telling you to sit still? What kid wants to sit still? I never did. Now you have a good reason not to. On average, being fidgety can burn an additional 300-350 calories per day, but this number will vary greatly depending on your choice of fidgeting. As an example, pacing will burn more calories than tapping a pencil. So, go ahead and tap your fingers on the steering wheel or jiggle your legs at your desk.

11. Park Your Car Further Away from The Door

Anytime you go to the mall, the grocery store, the office, etc. park further away from the entrance. You will burn a few extra calories from the additional steps. The faster you walk the more calories you will burn.

12. Laugh More

What could be a less painless way to burn calories other than breathing? Laughing. We should all try to laugh more often. I’m not talking about a chuckle or a few giggles, I am talking about a good, hearty laugh. You know, the kind that makes your stomach hurt and people think you were crying because you have tears running down your cheeks. Bonus: Laughing is also good for your emotional well-being because it helps relieve stress.

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13. Go Outside in Cold Weather

Get outside when the temperature dips. Studies have shown that exposing yourself to cold temperatures stimulates brown fat activity, thereby increasing the number of calories your body burns. Consider taking a walk or building a snowman with the kids.

14. Play with The Kids

Playing with the kids is a fun way to burn a few calories. It is possible to burn about 180 calories in as little as 30 minutes. So, instead of sitting on the bench at the playground, get on the swings with them, go down the slide, or climb on the jungle gym. C’mon, you know you want to.

Bottom Line

Maintaining a healthy weight is very important to overall health. And, although the effects of these weight loss strategies may seem insignificant, they can have a long-term impact that can help you lose weight. Burning just a few extra calories every day can add up over time. Reduce your calorie intake slightly as well and you will make even greater progress towards reaching your weight-loss goals.

While these are good references, they still cannot replace physical exercise. However, mix some of these daily calorie burners with regular exercise and you will become a calorie-burning machine.

So, burn calories the painless way and chew some gum, drink some ice water, laugh, or choose from any of the other suggestions provided.