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There are two simple things you can do to keep your New Year’s Resolutions to get healthier and lose some weight: drink more water and keep moving. And I am not talking about vigorous exercises or 8 glasses of water every day.
To change our life=habits, we need to change our lifestyle, to change our lifestyle takes longer than we expect, that is why all diets fail. Let’s be realistic: to change something in your life and stick to it takes more than a week or two, and even more than two- three months, am I right?
If you ask me how to start drinking more water and move more the easy way, I would say:
start your day with a glass of water before breakfast and get a puppy – just kidding about the puppy or not.
Why and how to drink more water.
We lose water every day by breathing, sweating, urinating, having a bowel movement – this is how we cleanse/detox our body from toxins.
Drinking more water helps us get rid of constipation, lose weight, lower blood pressure, get more energy, get rid of headaches, have healthier skin and complexion, have better digestion, ease PMS symptoms, etc.
Did you know that migraines can be caused by dehydration? Lightheadedness, weakness, extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, tingling of the limbs are the symptoms of dehydration?
To drink more water is easier than you think. Let me explain how:drink a glass of water (warm with half a lemon preferably) before breakfast and a cup of tea during or after breakfast. It is already two glasses, and you haven’t even started your day yet! It is simple, isn’t it?
How to start moving without sweat.
First, why a puppy? In addition to my 11year old Aussie, we adopted another one year old puppy a couple of weeks ago. And guess what? With the same routine (two 40 min. walks a day) I started losing weight, because our walks now at a faster pace. They say young kids keep us young, well, young dogs keep us healthy 
.
But you obviously don’t have to get a puppy to burn 102 cal. in 30 minutes by walking or 136 cal. by playing with him. There are other options for you.
Walking by itself will help you burn a lot of calories – maybe that is why European women are slimmer as well as New Yorkers.
Walking and calories (source: burncaloriesperhour.com) :
up stairs -272 calories in 30 min
down stairs – 102 calories in 30 min
inside at work gathering things – 102 calories in 30 min
for pleasure – 119 calories in 30 min
under 2 mph (very slow, strolling) - 68 calories in 30 min
Don’t have time to walk? What about going shopping:
non-groceries - 78 calories in 30 min
groceries, without cart – 85 calories in 30 min
groceries, with cart – 78 calories in 30 min
carrying – groceries – 85 calories in 30 min
It is all about moving. You can burn calories even without leaving a house:
ironing – 78 calories in 30 min
cooking – 85 calories in 30 min
washing car – 102 calories in 30 min
vacuuming, around home – 119 calories in 30 min
sweeping, inside (e.g., floors) – 112 calories in 30 min
washing dishes – 78 calories in 30 min
mopping – 119 calories in 30 min
multiple household tasks, light – 85 calories in 30 min
cleaning – light (e.g., dusting) – 85 calories in 30 min
Don’t want to clean a house? Well, I can understand it. So what’s left?
Kissing and hugging. They will help you burn calories (34 cal. in 30 minutes), reduce stress and boost your immune system.
And speaking about reducing stress, sex will help you both with stress and calories: 30 to 50 calories in 30 minutes! So, more sex = less calories and less stress – please have it in mind.
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to move and burn calories. Start with baby steps, keep it simple and you will be surprised with the results:
one extra glass of water before breakfast gives you extra 365 glasses of water a year;
moving 30 minutes a day can help you burn extra 3000 or more calories a month!
Let us be smart and take simple steps to feeling and looking fabulous.
And, as usual, don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.
P.S. If you feel like getting some help, motivation and support with one of my Holistic Health and Nutrition Program for Women, contact me and let us talk…
© Irina Wardas, HHC
Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert
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Hi Irina,
How in the world do you figure out how many calories each of these tasks burn? Interesting to see the comparison. I just wanted to add that in order to gain cardiovascular strength, you need to move without stopping. Burning calories is all well and good, but the strength of your heart is top priority.
Walking the dog is the best way to get reliable exercise isn’t it. Your best friend giving you sad eyes will get you out there with consistency!
You might find bike riding fun, maybe a dance class? Fun is important to. When you can enjoy moving, you have given your heart some important work to do, and added a bit of joy to your life at the same time.
If you can’t enjoy moving, then suffer through it until you crave it. (and you will, it makes you feel great!) Move it or lose it, right?
Starting with a glass of water every morning is great advice! I’m going to get a glass now.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hi Carrie, Thank you for your comment. I agree that we have to move all the time. That is the bottom line of my article: don’t sit at the computer or TV all day long, do something, move one step at a time:-)
As for the data, it is from the http://www.burncaloriesperhour.com It is actually a fun site.
Breathe, smile and be happy, Irina
Nice post. I just glanced through it. Maybe I can really read it later
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Losing those unsightly bulges doesn’t have to take too much time, everyday activities are simple and easy ways of burning stored calories!
Helpful suggestions Irina. Thanks! I am going to try the warm glass of water first thing with lemon – wonder what difference changing from cold to warm water with lemon will make.
Susan, it is a good question. The warmer the water (closer to body temperature), the easier for the body to get rid of toxins. That is why hot water with lemon juice helps lose weight and belly fat.
Great article! Thanks for making housework a little more enticing