Body & Mind

5 everyday things that absolutely count as a workout

By Sophie Rietmulder | #!31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:005031#31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:00-1Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331 07pm31pm-31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:001Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2023312023Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200001007pmFriday=9#!31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#07-07-2023#!31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:005031#/31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:00-1Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331#!31Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:50 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#

Did you get it? I'm on a health kick and trying to incorporate as many healthy habits into my life without actually having to go to the gym. I don't know what it is, but I already get bad vibes from the idea of a place where people come together to exercise. Maybe it's due to my gym class traumas. I was always the smallest in the group and the worst at everything our gym teacher wanted us to do. It was a combination of inattention, disinterest, and an undiagnosed motor disorder, so you understand that this was not my favorite hour of the week. Anyway, now I'm thirty and I can happily decide which activities I put my energy into, so I went looking for all the things you wouldn't think are workouts but that can actually help you with your fitness goals. Ready? Here they come!

Sex
Will the class please pay attention? This is very important information. During sex, you burn about 3 calories per minute, which may seem little, but can quickly add up to about 100 calories per session. Do it a little more often than the average once a week and calculate your gains.

Shopping
Carrie Bradshaw already said it: ‘Shopping is my cardio’. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard that statement, and since then I've literally made it a sport to get as much out of my shopping moments as possible. With an hour of shopping, you burn about 130 calories, and the heavier your bags, the faster that number goes up. Did you need an excuse to treat yourself to even more clothes, shoes, and nice gifts, just because you can? Well, you've found it now. You're welcome!

Walk ’n talk
Reaching your step goal and catching up on all the gossip with your girlfriends? Count me in. Walking is a great form of cardio and can help raise your heart rate, burning calories and improving your overall fitness. The fresh air is also good for your mental health, and the gossip? That's healing for the soul. If that's not a win-win...

Gardening
Although it may not be a very sexy hobby, the benefits of gardening are definitely worth bringing out those green fingers. Digging, planting, weeding, and maintaining your garden activates your muscles, which is good for, yes, fat burning. Moreover, research has shown that gardening is a great way to reduce stress, and who can't use that these days?

Dancing
Dancing like nobody's watching is one of my biggest hobbies and is according to a study by Healthline also good for your heart, your mental health, and your muscles. Experts recommend dancing for 120 to 300 minutes per week (or doing another form of exercise), which equals about 20 to 40 minutes per day. With the right playlist, that shouldn't be a problem, if you ask me.