Housework can be a workout

If you are one of many who have trouble finding the time for decent exercise, salvation may be in your house. According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, ordinary household chores can be turned into stretching, toning and strengthening exercises and off course – burn some calories.

The older we get the more pitfalls we become victims to. We live sedentary lifestyles and most of us are in the habit of making a lot of our journeys by car, we have various and numerous household aids to make chores easier and we love watching television and videos. It has been estimated that the extra physical activity involved in daily living 50 years ago is equivalent to running a marathon each week.

A small change in calorie balance can make a huge difference. It only takes 100 calories extra each day and you will soon end up with a few extra pounds. And exactly the reverse counts, it only takes 100 calories less, by doing some exercise or by eating less, and you should gradually shed a few pounds. By keeping active you are keeping your metabolism revved up.

Loss of muscle mass can be prevented or reversed by resistance exercise. But, forget about lifting weights and using gym equipment to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and minimize injuries and back problems. Why not rather try balancing on one leg while you brush your teeth or sweep the kitchen floor with more deliberate strokes.

Here are a few more examples of simple exercises you can try in the comfort of your own home:

• Laundry toss : Stand about 10 to 15 feet away from the washing machine with the laundry basket about waist high on your left side and the washing machine on your right. Pick up pieces of the dirty laundry and, while turning at the hips, pitch the laundry into the open washer. This exercise strengthens abdominal, lower back and hip muscles.
• Unload and Lift : As you remove dishes from the dishwasher, turn your body from side to side so your torso twists while you reach to put the clean dishes away. Put away one dish or piece of silverware at a time for maximum stretching.
• Rake and Twist : Take long, steady strokes, turning at your hips as you rake or sweep toward your body. Sweep both from left to right and from right to left.
• Standing Side Stretch : Grab any weighty object, a pint of milk or your briefcase, hold it in one hand while standing up straight with your feet slightly more than a shoulder’s width apart. Then slowly bend at the waist straight to the side, lowering the hand with the weighted object down your side as far as it will go and holding it for a count of 15 or 20. Repeat on the other side.

So next time you have to do your boring daily chores, do it with extra vigor and smile.

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For more information check out one of our favourite Straight-talking nutritionist Gillian McKeith