That's Fit

Burning calories doesn't always require a grueling session in the weight room or a hike across a difficult trail. As a matter of fact, even as you sit and read this right now, you're burning calories (albeit, not all too many). The process of burning calories during everyday tasks is known as Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT).

That all being said, this doesn't mean that you can ditch your workout and replace it with bird watching. Well, you can -- I just wouldn't advise it if your goal is to lose weight. It's here that I take some issue with what some so-called fitness experts are suggesting these days. Case in point, I recently came across an article in ... you know what, I'll leave the name of the magazine out of it. Let's just call it the Popular Family Magazine for the sake of discussion. Anyway, in said Popular Family Magazine, an article listed 20 ways to drop some pounds. So far, so good, right? Indeed; that is, until I saw that backyard barbecuing was recommended as a way to burn calories.

Does the concept of NEAT apply here? In all fairness, yes it does. According to FitDay.com, a 135-pound woman burns 86 calories per hour while cooking. However, you're only fooling yourself if you think cooking some burgers and hot dogs constitutes an effective means of weight loss. Plus, let's not forget that the whole point of preparing and cooking food is to eat it. So, after you've burned your measly 43 calories (I've never heard of a hamburger taking an hour to cook, so I've cut it down to calories burned in a half hour) calories while grilling, you then negate them entirely by consuming about 420 calories with the burger or about 300 calories with the hot dog.

If weight loss is your true goal (as opposed to just staying active), it's going to take effort. Real effort. Watering flowers and occasionally taking the stairs to your office instead of the elevator will help you burn a few calories, but unless you're watering a small greenhouse full of flowers or your office is on the 15th floor, you have not "gotten your workout in for the day."