How can I burn more calories without realising?

[IsTheRainEverComingBack]

So I’m getting fatter and fatter. BMI is nearly 30, I’m uncomfortable, miserable and annoyed. My diet isn’t that bad, minimal ‘treats’ mostly lots of plants, I’ve stopped drinking. The weight is not coming off.

The main reason is I burn hardly any calories. I work from home and have no kids, so it’s easy to not leave the house for days. 2500 steps is a good day. I used to go to the gym and do yoga but now it just seems overwelming. Deliberately exercising is hard to get motivated for, I like walking but waking round my concrete suburbia is a bit dreary.

I’d love your tips on how to get motivated or get moving in a way that feels like just a part of my day. If that’s even possible...

PS :
Modern Standing desks are REALLY cool
www.gostand.co.uk/collections/all/products/desk-top-adjustable-workstation
AS it allows you to mix standing and sitting without having to change anything else in your work space

TheOrigFV45 see my update!

Thanks Peridot starting too. I’ve felt less sick in the mornings and I think probably because I’m eating less and my body isn’t working so hard.

Standing desk unfortunately not an option, but I do get up and move around often. I’ve now set a reminder on my Fitbit to move every hour and it tells me how many steps to get to 250 per hour, so then I go walk around the house (I work from home)

Also been jumping around the kitchen when cooking, star jumps whilst waiting for the microwave, and going for brisk walks in the evening if I’ve had a low steps day.

Istherain
Excellent on the star jumps.

Try a Swiss ball for sitting on while working - as there is no back you have to use your core muscles at all times which means you are burning calories and toning those muscles the whole time.

Alternatively, sit about three inches forwards in a normal chair so that you have to use your abs to hold you up

There is an old Michael Moseley programme which worked out the difference that working posture made over a day ..... an astounding amount of extra calories

If your house has stairs, carry everything up one at a time as fast as you can (cheapskates stair climber machine ;-)

I’ve had several neck/back/shoulder injuries on both sides from just general office worker wear and tear, so I’ve got a very supportive proper computer chair with a back rest, foot rest etc and I focus on sitting properly in that chair (per occupational health lady instructions) so I’m not going to change that up. But I can move more when I’m not sitting.

Ah, cool.
So very gentle upper body toning might make quite a difference ....

get those soup tins out on the counter and use the for bicep curls and lateral raises and upright rows whenever you get a moment

anything to get the blood flowing and the muscles demanding more
will mean that when you get to happy weight you will be ready toned

Yes that’s the hope! Only a few years ago I was in the gym doing weights about 4 times a week, and nearly 2 stone lighter than I am now, so I know what to do and what I’m capable of, I’m just out of practice/routine. My body just loves to hold on to fat, I think I’ll just need to be strict forever.

Sorry if somebody already mentioned this upthread. There's a lady on YouTube who basically helps you walk a mile (and larger distances) in your living room. They honestly don't take long to do. Might be a good start? X

I think I’ll just need to be strict forever.
Sadly that is the reality.
None of my slim gym bunny friends are magically that way.
They consciously eat as little as their body needs decade in, decade out.

Yep, very true. I do think portion sizes have got bigger and bigger without us realising, plus our bodies mechanisms were built for a time of food scarcity, not food abundance!

I have the reminder set on my Fitbit too. My dad was when I stayed with him and I walked up and down to get my steps in! Tried to persuade him to do the same in ad breaks on tv etc.