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20 Ways to Torch 200 Calories: SparkPeople SlideShow

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20 Ways to Burn 200 Calories

Do visions of schlepping away on the treadmill or giving up your social life for the gym come to mind when you think about burning calories? Think again!

These fun workouts and activities will help you burn approximately 200 calories* each. Take your pick, whether you need ideas to get started on your fitness program or get the scale moving in the right direction again.

*Calorie estimates for a 160-pound female come from SparkPeople's fitness tracker. Men--and women who weigh more--will burn more calories.

Playtime!

Video games like Nintendo Wii let you exercise more than your thumbs. It gets you up off the couch and sweating!
50 minutes = 200 calories burned

Hop to It

Grab a jump rope and make like a kid! Wear good cushioned shoes and use a steady hard surface.
10-15 minutes = 200 calories burned

Tee Off

Hit the links at your local golf course. Walking and pulling (or carrying) your own clubs is great exercise!
50 minutes = 210 calories burned

Lather Up

Wash your car by hand. Get out the vacuum, hose, bucket, and sponge for a detailed cleaning.
40 minutes = 216 calories burned

Fitness Buddy

Take the dog for a walk, and try to maintain a brisk (about 4 mph) pace. Fido needs exercise, too!
25 minutes = 190 calories burned

Get Served

Call up a friend for a friendly game of racquetball or tennis. This is a good opportunity to catch up while you get fit! You don’t have to be a pro to have fun!
25 minutes = 218 calories burned

Redesign

Get off the couch and move it for a whole new look. All that lifting, tugging, pushing, and pulling adds up.
25 minutes = 210 calories burned

Keep Climbing

Head for the Stairmaster at the gym, stadium steps at a local school, or staircase at your office to burn mega calories. Try to accumulate several minutes over the course of a day.
30 minutes = 216 calories burned

Strike Out

This is a great opportunity to do something active and fun as a family instead of camping in front of the television.
60 minutes = 200 calories burned

Spin Cycle

Do your best Lance Armstrong imitation. Get your bike out for a few trips around the block or head to your local bike trail. A 10-12 mph pace is moderate for most people, but you'll burn more calories going uphill and/or faster.
30 minutes = 210 calories

Add Color

Add a fresh coat of paint to your favorite room to burn calories while you cross off your to-do list!
40 minutes = 208 calories burned

Lawn Care

Mow the lawn the old-fashioned way. Get out your push mower and trim the edges when you're done.
40 minutes = 215 calories burned

Take the Plunge

You don't have to be Michael Phelps or Dara Torres to benefit from swimming. Alternate your strokes and you can even jog, lane walk, or tread water, too!
30 minutes = 215 calories burned

Get Organized

Clean out the garage. You've put it off for too long, and you know it needs it--so why not use it as an excuse to burn some calories!
25 minutes = 210 calories burned

Basic Training

Create your own boot camp with exercise stations such as jumping rope, pushups, jumping jacks, crunches, squat thrusts, and jogging in place. Spend 2 minutes at each station and repeat 3 times.
30 minutes = 200 calories burned

Garden

Beautify your yard. Weed the flower beds. Spread some mulch. Trim the hedges. Plant some flowers. Work in the yard for 45 minutes and love the improvements. No yard? Help an elderly person in a neighborhood; it will be good for you both!
55 minutes = 205 calories burned

Get Groovy

Turn on your favorite tunes and make your living room a dance hall. If you have a partner, great! If not, it just gives you more room to get down!
40 minutes = 216 calories burned

Shoot & Score

Friendly gatherings don’t always have to be around the table! Call some friends for a quick game of half or full court basketball.
20 minutes = 192 calories burned

Tread Lightly

Hop on the treadmill (or head outdoors) for a quick jog at about a 5 mph pace.
20 minutes = 192 calories burned

Tidy Up

This one job seems to never end, but break out the broom, vacuum cleaner, and cleaning products. Make it a goal to keep moving and finish as quickly as possible to ensure your heart rate gets up!
40 minutes = 216 calories burned

You will earn 3 SparkPoints

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Member comments on this slideshow

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BLUEBELLGIRLS

2/11/2012 4:00:25 AM

Some great ideas

GODSFAITH

2/10/2012 9:08:50 PM

OH~ Will have to try some of the 20 Ways to Torch 200 Calories. This should be FUN, FITNESS to try out. Wish me LUCK!!! SP Friends... Thanks for the tips...

GODSFAITH

2/10/2012 8:42:34 PM

Hey, SP FRIENDS.... Just order the ZUMBA DVD can't wait to try the new DVD.... Wanting to learn to dance.... HA!! Now's my time for FUN.

TYKXBOY

2/10/2012 4:30:57 PM

Why do we always have to "torch" calories? Why can't we also "burn", "fry", "ignite", or even "smolder" them?

REDBIRDFLY

2/10/2012 4:13:25 PM

I'm going to try Basic Training tonight! Thanks!!

SANDY92308

2/10/2012 4:01:18 PM

Thank for sharing this I would of never thought the things I been doing every day I burn calories wow..

CAROLANNETTE4

2/10/2012 3:49:59 PM

Thank you, several of these I would never thought of that I do all the time. I will surely start skipping the car wash and washing my own. Not only burn calories but save money. Also I love my gardens, will just have to spend more time in them..

KAISHAKU_FOX

2/10/2012 3:44:09 PM

jumping rope sounds fun, haven't done that in years!

WANT2BHEALTHY60

2/10/2012 3:40:45 PM

This has motivated me to get out my DVD on rumba dancing. I have 2 left feet also, and am anxious to use the video to learn how to do all kinds of Latin music moves. (I live in Ecuador, and dancing is IN here)
Thanks for the reminder.

BROWNSKIN252

2/10/2012 10:54:51 AM

This article is just what I needed! I've been trying to figure other activities than walking on the treadmill...but I wasn't certain how long an activity should last or the calories burned associated with the activity! Jumping rope for 10 - 15 min.....swimming for 30 min....dancing for 40 min......I LOVE TO DANCE! Fantasic!

CINEMAPERSIANS

2/10/2012 10:52:50 AM

When I was a kid I jumped rope all the time, now I worry about my knees. I don't play video games or golf, but my car needs a good wash. I may wait until it's warmer though. Currently it's about 35 degrees outside! Dog walking and raquetball/tennis aren't really available to me since I don't have a dog or a racquet, but I can definitely rearrange furniture and swim! I climb stairs every chance I get despite my bad knees because I know it's good for my hamstrings, glutes, and quads. I might try to bowl some if I can find a friend to join me. I've also been thinking about buying a bicycle to ride around my small town while I run errands. Talk about 2 birds/1 stone! Errands run, exercise gotten, calories burned! Maybe that's 3 birds, huh? LOL

Seriously... these are all great ideas to burn calories while getting things accomplished and/or having fun!

MAUVEBEAR3

2/10/2012 10:51:53 AM

When I took my dog, Maile, in for her yearly wellness check, I found out she had gained about 6 pounds. She is a 10 year old Husky/Lab mix and 6 lbs. was like gaining 10 percent of her body weight. So even though we walk every day, I have stepped up our walks with longer, more challenging, and new routes. Using the sparkpeople "map your route" has been terrific! I invested in a watch with a stopwatch so I can now subtract the stop times (Maile taking care of her reason for the walk, running into her dog friends, and general sniff and explore times) and have a more accurate time frame of our walks and distances covered. I ran across a great saying " If your dog is overweight, you're not getting enough exercise!" Perfect! Loved the other suggestions and am looking forward into adding them to my " fun things to do to burn calories" list. Walking my dog is at the top of the list-love my time outside with her and she has lost a pound so far! I'm waiting to "weigh" in to see my progress!

NUTZ4HARRY

2/10/2012 10:46:54 AM

I think back to when I was a kid and how I was outside almost all the time during the summer. I was trim and active. I always helped my dad in the garden and to this day I still like to do yard work. I won't pay for some one else to mow my lawn, shovel my snow, trim my bushes etc. I still love to do so many thinks that I did as a kid but can't always find the time or the space. Just playing at a playground is enough fun for me. Let me go up and down the slide for hours. Play hide and seek. Great ideas in this article.

DESAUNDERS

2/10/2012 10:42:36 AM

I must finiish painting the living room. About 600 cals/hour. Could walk my cocker, Razz, he and I both need to loose.

YOADDICTION101

2/10/2012 10:38:16 AM

I think I should blow some dust off my jump rope. I got one last fall but haven't been using it since it got cold. It had the best burn for the least amount of time. So diffidently going to be getting back on that.

I also like that cleaning and organizing or great calorie burns. Never would of thought I would burn some many calories washing a car. Maybe I should go wash my aunts car again.

Lot of exercises to chose from that I like to do. So thanks for the info. You just re-motivated me!! And I've been needing that for weeks!! So a huge thanks to SPARKPEOPLE!!

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