Keep in mind that not all movement is created equal. In order to classify an activity as a cardio ''exercise,'' you must be working at 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. However, even though periods of less intense activity may not count as part of your workout, they still provide health benefits and burn extra calories. After all, the less sitting you do, the better!
Burn, Baby, Burn!
(Values are approximate and are based on a 150-pound person.)
Workouts:
- Biking: 23 minutes of casual cycling
- Cardio dance class: 15 minutes
- Elliptical: 8 minutes
- Jumping rope: 9 minutes at a moderate intensity
- Lifting weights, vigorously: 15 minutes
- Pilates: 24 minutes
- Rowing machine: 13 minutes
- Running stairs: 6 minutes
- Running: 9 minutes of running at a 6 mph pace
- Swimming: 15 minutes moderate intensity
- Walking stairs: 11 minutes
- Walking: 20 minutes of walking at a 3 mph pace
- Water aerobics: 23 minutes
- Yoga: 20 minutes
- Zumba: 11 minutes
- Basketball, shooting hoops: 20 minutes
- Bowling: 30 minutes
- Dancing around
living room : 20 minutes - Darts: 35 minutes
- Golfing, carrying clubs: 15 minutes
- Ice skating, moderate: 18 minutes
- Kickball: 13 minutes
- Mini golf or driving range: 30 minutes
- Playing catch with a football: 35 minutes
- Playing Frisbee: 30 minutes
- Playing soccer, casual: 13 minutes
- Skiing
, downhill: 10 minutes - Softball or baseball: 18 minutes
- Tennis (doubles): 21 minutes
- Tennis (singles): 15 minutes
- Treading water, moderate effort: 23 minutes
- Volleyball, recreational: 26 minutes
- Water skiing: 15 minutes
- Mowing the lawn: 20 minutes
- Painting house: 18 minutes
- Raking leaves: 23 minutes
- Shoveling snow: 15 minutes
- Washing the car: 20 minutes
- Weeding the
garden : 18 minutes
- Carrying an infant: 24 minutes
- Cleaning, moderate effort: 26 minutes
- Cooking: 34 minutes
- Doing dishes: 40 minutes
- Mopping the floor: 20 minutes
- Playing with children: 23 minutes
- Pushing a stroller: 35 minutes
- Rearranging furniture: 14 minutes
- Shopping: 38 minutes
- Sweeping: 23 minutes
- Walking the dog, 26 minutes