Burn It Before You Eat It

No need for expensive gym memberships or equipment that you will hardly ever use.  My secret to weight loss?  Cook!  Get in your kitchen and try some of these calorie-burning cooking techniques.  You can burn off the meal before you even eat it.

• Throw away your electric mixer. You won't burn many calories just holding a hand mixer and you won't burn any calories using a standing mixer.  Instead, try whipping up those cookies the way your great grandma did: by hand.  Find a sturdy wooden spoon or wire whisk and stir away.  You will easily feel your arm getting toned.  Take it up a notch by using your dominant hand to hold the bowl and the other hand to do the mixing.
• Roll those calories away. Not only does making homemade pie crusts, cookies, and pasta save you money, but all that arm movement from rolling out your doughs will tone up both of your arms and get that heart pumping.  If you have never rolled out your own pasta before, I highly recommend you try it.  It is a workout unlike any other!
• Bye-bye bread machine. I'll be the first to admit that I love my bread machine for its ease and convenience.  But if I am in the mood to burn some calories, I'll knead the dough by hand.  For a higher calorie burn, try kneading thicker doughs like whole wheat and rye.
• Give your dishwasher a break. Now we are really talking 1950's.  Let your dishwasher take a few nights off a week and wash the dishes by hand.  A 150 pound person will burn a whopping 150 calories per hour!

• Stop buying pre-shredded. Switch to block cheeses and whole carrots and shred them yourself with an old-fashioned grater.  Feel free to take a couple of breaks because this workout can get intense.
• Buy in bulk.  Save money and lift some unique weights.  Try buying a 50 pound bag of popcorn or a 25 pound bag of flour.  Put them in a spot that you have to pull out frequently and carry them to the kitchen.  Remember to lift with your legs and use caution not to hurt your back!
• For the ladies: When you are standing around chopping veggies or boiling water, do your Kegels!  They help with bladder control as you age, less tearing when you birth your babies, and improve your sex life.  Just tighten your Kegel muscles (the muscles you use to stop the flow of urine) and hold for five seconds, then release.

What type of tricks do you use to amp up your calorie burning through everyday activities?