New evidence in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter revealed that sitting for longer periods doesn't pose any significant health risk, as previously reported on HNGN. However, the experts emphasized that any activity that doesn't involve any movement, or "where energy expenditure is low," can be unhealthy, regardless if it's sitting or standing too long.
When you're too occupied with work or tasks, sometimes, it's easy to forget to get up and move your muscles, hence, your body doesn't get to burn more energy. Fortunately, there are some activities you can do to facilitate calorie burning even if you're doing little exercises.
1.) It's important to rev up your metabolism at the start of the day. If it's too early to go to the gym, you can do simple stretches or crunches and squats in your bedroom first to condition your body. For ideas on movements, download the 7-minute workout app from iTunes or Google Play.
2.) Try keeping your room colder or stay in areas where there's a slightly lower temperature. The cold forces the body to expend more energy, thus burning more calories, according to The Atlantic.
3.) Don't multitask so that you can divide activities and burn more calories. For instance, the simple task of moving grocery items to the kitchen from the car can be done faster by carrying two to three loads at once. However, if you carry one bag and return for the rest in two or three short walks, you can burn at least 89 calories, according to Health.
4.) Chew gum to suppress the appetite and burn 11 calories in an hour, according to experts via NBC News. "One theory is that chewing stimulates nerves in the jaw that are connected to the brain region responsible for satiety," nutrition professor Kathleen Melanson said in the report.
5.) Give yourself a nudge by having an activity tracker to remind you when it's time to take a break and move. You may also use your smartphone's alarm or download an app for this.
