Sure, online shopping can save you time, but it doesn’t do you any favors in the fitness department. However, an afternoon in the mall toting an arm-full of heavy bags from store to store will definitely help burn off those extra “festive” calories we all take in this time of year. So warm-up your car already; your workout is waiting!
Park Far Away
Before you even hit the first store, make your step count go up for the day. Park your car as far away as possible from the mall doors and sneak in an extra five minutes of movement. Plus, who needs the stress of circling and searching for the perfect spot? Not us!
“Power” Shop
Check off every item on your list by turning shopping into “power” shopping. Since mall walking for three hours can burn up to 750 calories for a 150-pound person, zigzag your route instead of going up and down the row of stores. And instead of taking the escalators and elevators, always look for the flight of stairs. An easy glute workout, plus the additional calorie burn, is a bonus you can’t pass up!
Curl Your Bags
Put your purchases to good use. While you’re waiting for your teenage daughter to come out of the dressing room, do bicep curls with your shopping bags. Sets of 15 throughout the mall quickly turn into a sculpting session with no gym necessary!
Avoid The Food Court
An afternoon of following the above mentioned tips can quickly be thwarted by a trip to the food court. Instead of diving into the cinnamon rolls and Chinese food, eat a healthy lunch at home before hitting the mall. Feel free to toss in an apple or protein bar for a quick snack when the shopping gets long. If you’re craving a treat, a small skim latte is only 100 calories!
Source: lifefitness.com/blog. Visit the Life Fitness blog for more health and fitness information.
*Image of “shopping“ via Shutterstock
