How shopping can help you lose weight!

Think shopping is only about splurging money or a task you have to do to get your groceries every week? You can turn this routine into your workout. Yes, shopping can help you bun calories. By making a few alterations to the way you shop, you can definitely lose weight. After all, Carrie Bradshaw from the hit series Sex in the City also honestly admitted that shopping is in fact her cardio workout and that’s why she couldn’t make the switch to online shopping. So why not get yourself a workout while you buy the essentials!

If you still aren’t convinced, here are some numbers:

Clued up shoppers could be burning up to 800 calories during an average shop.

That means, twice weekly shoppers can burn 1,600 calories a week, or 83,200 calories per year.

Experts from shopping website Promotionalcodes.org.uk have come up with some exercises for shoppers who want to feel the burn.

Squats: Instead of bending over to reach the lower shelved items in the supermarket, try sitting back into a squat. This exercise is great for toning your lower body and targets the muscles of thighs, hips, buttocks, quads and hamstrings. Do this by lowering yourself by bending the knees while sticking out your bottom and leaning forward at the waist (imagine you are going to sit on a chair).

Calories burnt: 51 calories in 10 minutes equivalent to one cookie.

Calf raises: When reaching for items on the top shelves, do some calf raises to strengthen the backs of your legs and shoulders. The exercise will also tone your calves. To do this, raise your heels off the ground and balance on your toes till you feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Touch your heels to the ground and then again raise them. 

Calories burnt: 34 calories in 10 minutes.

Arm curls: Arm curls don’t have to just be restricted to lifting heavy weights in the gym. They can actually help improve your posture whilst strengthening and toning your arms. You can use cans or soft drink bottles from the supermarket to do them. Hold them in both hands with your palms facing away from your body and elbows close to your torso. Now bend your elbows to bring the cans to your shoulder level and then back to the starting position. Feel the strain in your upper arms. 

Calories burnt: 80 calories for 10 minutes’ work, equivalent to a chocolate digestive biscuit.

Lunge: Pushing a trolley for an average 40-minute shop will burn 160 calories alone, which is the same amount as a large glass of rose wine. However, to help tone your legs, thighs and quadriceps, try performing lunges while walking around the supermarket and using your shopping trolley to lean on.

Calories burnt : 317 for a 40-minute shop or one cheeseburger.

Leg raises: Leg raises are another exercise that can be done to work your thighs and quads. This move is perfect for doing whilst in the queue to pay or browsing items, and will also do wonders for your core stability and balance. To increase the workout, try lifting your legs up as high as you can to crunch your abs at the same time.

Calories burnt: 70 calories or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Arm raises: Arm raises with bottles of water is a great alternative to lifting dumbbells in the gym and will tone your biceps a treat. This exercise can be increased as much as you want by opting for lighter weighted items to make the exercise easier.

Calories burnt: 105 calories or a quarter of a box of chocolates.

So the next time you go grocery shopping, do not forget to try these exercises as well. 

With inputs from IANS

You may also like to read:

• Weight loss diet by expert dietician
• 5 diseases you can prevent with weight loss
• 6 diet tips to lose belly fat
• Weight gain due to long working hours. What should I do?
• What is the right way to lose weight?

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