Activities that burn calories like a 30-minute walk

You don't need to hit the gym to burn calories. In fact, there are plenty of activities that can burn calories equivalent to 30 minutes of walking a day .

Walking is great for your health. It keeps you active, it's comfortable, and it's easy to do almost anywhere. For a 155-pound person, walking for 30 minutes will burn about 140 calories. However, not everyone likes to walk or can walk. If you're in that group, the good news is that there are plenty of activities that burn just as many calories as walking, and they can even be part of your regular routine.

Everything from hiking and jogging to housework can help you stay active and healthy. Here are some fun alternatives to walking that can help you stay in shape while changing up your routine! Each calorie level is based on 30 minutes of activity for a 155-pound person.

Garden

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 176

It's time to get outside and garden. Gardening is a satisfying way to see your hard work pay off over time. You save money and put quality vegetables on your table. It's also a great way to get some exercise without feeling like exercise.

Play with children

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Do you have kids, grandkids, or friends with kids? Spending time playing with kids is actually good for both of you. Anyone who has spent a day with kids knows it can be tiring—but playing with kids is actually fun. Moderate play with kids burns as many calories as walking. If you play more vigorous games, like hopscotch or tag, you can burn up to 186 calories in a half hour.

Tai Chi

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Tai chi is a gentle form of exercise that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing and mindfulness to promote balance, flexibility, and relaxation. In addition to burning calories, tai chi offers a number of potential benefits—for both your mental and physical health—including stress reduction and improved mood.

Try taking a tai chi class at your local fitness center or practice through online videos.

Mowing

Calories burned in 30 minutes : 193

Unfortunately, lawn mowers don't count here, but use a push mower and you can increase your calorie burn while tending to your lawn. This makes sense, since you're walking and pushing at the same time. Plus, you're doing two things at once and making your yard look nicer. The energy expended while mowing is on par with sports like volleyball or badminton.

Toilet

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 123–158

Cleaning the house, an item on many people's weekly to-do list, can burn more calories than walking. More complex tasks, like vacuuming, scrubbing, or washing the car, understandably burn more calories than lower-lift tasks, like dusting or wiping kitchen counters.

Rake leaves

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Add this to your list of things to do in the fall to burn calories. Raking leaves may seem like a chore, but it's a great way to get outside and enjoy the fall weather.

Paint

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 158

Painting is one of the cheapest ways to update your home. Giving a room a fresh coat of color burns about 158 ​​calories in half an hour. Painting yourself can save you money and burn calories.

Note that while painting a canvas on an easel is a great way to relax for an afternoon, that type of painting won't burn as many calories as painting an entire wall.

Sports training

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

You don't have to be an athlete to participate in the calorie-burning benefits of sporting events. Coaching a sports team burns about 140 calories in 30 minutes of competition, whether standing or moving to coordinate with your team. It's a great way to get involved in sports without having to get on the field.

These are just a few of the many ways walking can burn calories. When trying to lose or maintain weight and stay healthy, it's important to find ways to incorporate activity into your day. The key to maintaining an exercise routine is finding activities that you enjoy and that fit into your personal lifestyle. These ideas show that burning calories can be done outside of your regular workout routine.