Standing Out in the Cold

I'm a lazy dieter. It's not for lack of motivation. My risk for Type 2 Diabetes is more about when not if. And it's not about lack of knowledge. I have been a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers since I was 9 (pure truth). I have been losing weight for more than 30 years. Not much has changed, the basics are still the same, less food, more exercise.

But remember, I said I was a lazy dieter. It's hard to exercise and be lazy. Well, maybe not. The point of exercise in any diet is to burn more calories than you take in. So for those you who share my lack athletic enjoyment I found some creative ways to burn calories.

1. Stand Up - standing up for 3 hours a day burns as many calories as running 10 marathons. I sit all day in front of a computer, it's no wonder the pounds are creeping on. Maybe I can get a standing desk or maybe make my own.
2. Stay Chilly -  When you're cold your body works harder to maintain your temperature, and burns more calories. Ok, this might be a bit of a scientific stretch but it can make me feel a little better while I'm scraping the ice off my car windows. Maybe there is a reason to like the Pittsburgh winters. 
3. Laugh Lots - Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes can burn 40 calories. It's time to DVR all my favorite sitcoms and laugh my tail off, literally. 
4. Shop - Any kind of shopping will do. Though I think taking a 15 year old girl shopping for a Homecoming dress shouldn't be included in a discussion of lazy ways to burn calories. And extra calories should be given for any shopping done on Black Friday.
5. Clean - This of course is also done as a last resort and really would be better accomplished with hiring a housekeeper and supervising. But, of course, that might defeat the purpose of the exercise. 

Researching these has been hard work, I just checked, lo and behold, typing on a computer for one hour burns 40 calories. Now I think I'm set especially if I stand up and turn the thermostat down!