26. Canoeing
If you like rowing but the workout is a bit too much, try canoeing or kayaking. 30 minutes of this will burn 203 calories. An hour will burn 405.
27. Sailing
Like sailing or wind surfing? This leisurely sport may burn more calories than you think. An hour on the water will burn 204 calories. 2 hours will burn 408, or the equivalent of each of these:
• ½ cup of cashews
• 6 oz. serving of garlic scampi
• 1 baked potato with cheese sauce and broccoli
• 1 extra crispy fried chicken thigh
28. Water Skiing
Water skiing for 30 minutes can be a great workout, and it’ll burn 216 calories. Stay on the water for an hour (don’t forget the sunscreen) and burn 432 calories.
29. Scuba Diving
Like swimming with the fishes? Scuba diving may be for you! Not only do you get a terrific view, but you burn calories, too. Scuba diving for 30 minutes will burn 239 calories. Make it an hour-long dive, and you’ll burn 478 calories.
30. Swimming
Swimming is probably the most popular water exercise. A leisurely 20-minute swim will only burn 130 calories. If you put a bit more effort into it, and swim a bit longer (45 minutes), you’ll burn 409 calories.
31. Surfing
Grab your surfboard! Surfing is an exciting way to get into shape. Catching the waves for 45 minutes will burn 155 calories. Stay out for an hour and a half and burn 310 calories.
32. Rafting
Riding those rapids will not only bring out your adventurous side, but will also burn unwanted calories. A 45-minute rugged raft ride will burn 270 calories. A 2-hour adventure will burn a big 720 calories.
33. Ice Skating
Ice-skating is a great winter activity and a great way to get into shape. A 20- minute skate around the rink will burn 138 calories. Stay on that rink for a good hour, and you’ll burn 414 calories.
34. Ice Hockey
Grab that hockey stick and puck! This popular winter sport isn’t just for watching anymore. A 45-minute game of hockey will burn 351 calories. Add another 45 minutes for overtime; that’s 702 calories.
35. Snow Skiing
Just spending 45 minutes of downhill skiing will burn 331 calories. Stay on the slopes for 90 minutes and burn 661.
36. Shoveling Snow
Grab a shovel and start getting into shape. Just 15 minutes of shoveling will burn 135 calories. If you have an extra long driveway, you could burn 303 calories (in 45 minutes).
37. Stacking Firewood
If you spend just 20 minutes stacking firewood, you’ll burn 138 calories. Got a bigger stack? 45 minutes of stacking wood will burn 311 calories.
38. Sweeping and Mopping
A quick 15-minute sweep will burn 42 calories. Then if you mop, that’s another 77 calories. Not much, but if you do it often those calories will really add up.
39. Washing Dishes
If you spend 20 minutes doing dishes, you’ll burn 52 calories. Doing this twice a day will burn 104 calories. If you have lots of dirty dishes, you can burn 117 calories (45 minutes).
40. Cooking
If it takes you 20 minutes to cook your meal, you’ll burn 57 calories. Multiply this by 3 meals a day, and that’s 171 calories. If you prepare more elaborate meals, you could burn 128 calories per meal (45 minutes each).
41. Grocery Shopping
A 30-minute grocery shopping trip will burn 119 calories. Like to shop even more? An hour trip will burn 238 calories.
42. Ironing
15 minutes of ironing will burn 38 calories. Ironing for 45 minutes will burn 114 calories.
43. Doing Laundry
Just folding/hanging up one load of laundry for 20 minutes will burn 46 calories. If you have 2 or 3 loads, that can add up to 138 calories.
44. Vacuuming
Vacuuming one room for 20 minutes will burn 56 calories. Vacuum the whole house and burn about 170 calories (in 60 minutes).
45. Cleaning the House
If you clean for 3 hours, you’ll burn 920 calories! Even if you just clean for an hour, you’ll burn 306 calories, or the equivalent of each of these:
• 2 oz. chocolate bar
• 5 oz. apple pie
• ¼ of a package of macaroni and cheese
46. Lawn Care
Performing general lawn care (mowing, raking, and watering) for 45 minutes burns 281 calories. Double your time mowing, and you’ll burn 563 calories.
47. Weeding the Garden
30 minutes of general weeding will burn 153 calories. Weed for an hour, and you’ll burn 307 calories.
48. Painting the House
For every hour you spend painting, you’ll burn 342 calories. Multiply that times 4 hours—that’s 1368 calories!
49. Dancing
Put on those dancing shoes! Almost any kind of dancing can get your heart pumping and your calories burning. Just 30 minutes of dancing will burn 239 calories. Dance for an hour, and burn 478 calories.
50. Laughing
A good 15-minute belly-laugh can burn 40 calories. That’s the equivalent of a small piece of chocolate!