Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Do This Super-Simple Move to Burn an Extra 200 Calories a Day

You do this move already, I'll bet--during yoga, in the shower, on the phone--but you probably don't realize you're doing it. Your challenge now? To do it more often. The move I'm talking about, of course, is...


0423-one-leg-stand_vg.jpg

...holding a flower pot in the air. 

No, not really. Silly! The real move: stand on one leg. When it comes to calories, standing burns more than sitting--about 30 to 50 more per hour. Standing on one leg ("unipedal standing," if you're fancy) ups the ante, burning another 20 to 30 more calories on top of that--while also engaging your core muscles and improving your balance.

Just lifting one foot a few inches off the ground causes the rest of your body to work to center itself. If you want to work your body a little harder, try this: raise your foot and pull up your knee, Karate Kid-style, so it looks like you're about to climb a huge step. Do it while doing things like brushing your teeth, putting on makeup, washing the dishes, pouring a bowl of cereal, and switch legs with every new task. 

If you want to challenge yourself even more, slowly straighten your leg in front of you, then swivel it to the back. Standing on one leg in 10 to 12 five-minute increments can add up to an extra 200 calories per day--not bad at all!

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