Six Easy Ways to Burn Calories Without Working Out

One of the main reasons why we start exercising is to burn calories. We should know that sometimes the most effective way to burn calories isn't by being particularly disciplined, rather by having a healthy lifestyle. So, what are some easy ways to burn calories?
Six Easy Ways to Burn Calories Without Working Out

Last update: 26 January, 2019

Is it really difficult for you to burn calories? In this article, we’ll explain many different easy ways to burn calories without having to suffer. Take advantage of the good summer weather and your vacation to achieve your objective.

Easy ways to burn calories

If you’re looking for the fastest and easiest way to burn calories, look no further than the following options. There’s an activity for everyone! Choose something that you can best adapt to your lifestyle, time or needs:

1. Playing on the beach

If you are lucky enough to live near the beach or if you are on vacation, you can take the opportunity to use it to burn extra calories. Although we tend to relate beachside living with all kinds of indulgences, it can also be the ideal place to enjoy exercise without really realizing it.

Woman playing on tropical beach in waves easy ways to burn calories

How does going for a walk along the beach with your partner sound? Or playing soccer, volleyball or racquet sports with your friends? Even making sand castles with your children can help you burn calories and let’s not forget to mention swimming in the waves. You will have a wonderful time and lose weight.

You might also like: Tips for Running at the Beach

2. Sleeping

Not all of the options on this list of easy ways to burn calories involve movement. You can also burn calories while you sleep! People who enjoy a good night’s sleep tend to have a faster metabolism. This translates into less appetite and faster digestion.

Therefore, we recommend that you sleep for between seven and eight continuous hours per night.

3. Gardening

If you have a garden or patio, take advantage of this space to grow plants and flowers. In addition to looking beautiful, it will also be beneficial for your physical and mental health. Squatting with your knees bent for a few minutes is a perfect way to strengthen your glutes.

You can also work your arms using tools such as a rake or shovel. In doing so, you will burn calories, tone your muscles and even harvest your own crops!

Additionally, if your garden or lawn is big enough that you have to cut the grass, you will burn about 200 calories for every 20 minutes of continuous work. Pushing a lawnmower also strengthens your abdominal muscles, arms, legs, and even your heart.

4. Drinking ice cold water

Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t the heat that makes you lose weight, it’s cold. This is a concept utilized in many aesthetic treatments such as cryolipolysis, or fat-freezing, which freezes fat in order to “break it down” and eliminate it through urine.

Therefore, we recommend you drink water (as cold as possible) after eating breakfast. Just doing that can help you burn up to 50 calories. If you would like to drink water on an empty stomach, it should be lukewarm or at room temperature. Add a few drops of lemon juice to help clean your intestines as well.

5. Dancing

Dancing has many advantages on an emotional level as well as physical. It reduces stress, helps you feel less embarrassed or nervous, and allows us to express ourselves properly. Additionally, this fun and dynamic activity improves self-esteem and burns plenty of calories!

Couple dancing in kitchen at home easy ways to burn calories

Choose the music you like most (preferably upbeat) and start enjoying the benefits of dancing! The best part about it is that you can dance at home without anyone seeing you or visit a nightclub full of people and the effects are just the same.

6. Eating “fat burning” foods

Though they don’t magically solve our problems, it’s true that certain foods can help you burn calories and at the same time help with proper nutrition.

Add grapefruit, celery, green tea, avocado, cinnamon, quinoa, watermelon, raisins, and oats to your diet. They will also satisfy your appetite and prevent you from eating between meals.

As you can see, there isn’t just one way of burning calories. There are many easy ways to burn calories and it all depends on what you enjoy and how much you are willing to do to achieve your goals.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Farmer, S. R. (2009). Obesity: Be Cool, Lose Weight. Nature458(7240), 839.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.