Sunday, January 24, 2010

Are Your Friendships Making You Gain Weight?



Perhaps you’ve heard about the studies that suggest hanging out with overeaters is more likely to make you overindulge, too. But there’s more to tipping the scale than the size of your best buds’ waistline. It all boils down to how you spend your time together. If “quality time” with friends regularly lands you at a restaurant table or bar brimming with caloric, hunger-inducing cocktails—and let’s face it, whose doesn’t?—it’s time to rethink your definition of the best ways to catch up with your pals. Next time you schedule a date, consider these five fun ways to burn calories without scorching your friendships or weight goals.

1. Be a card: Gather around a coffee table to play cards for two hours and bid about 216 calories goodbye! Browse the best board games!

2. Take a hike: Reconnect with nature and an old pal by hitting the trails. Show off your hottest workout wear and cutest athletic shoes while you leave 349 calories in the dust in just 45 minutes! Try carrying dumbbells or soup cans for an extra arm workout.

3. Have a ball: Meet up at your local bowling alley to burn 413 calories by engaging in some friendly competition for two hours.

4. Shop ‘til you drop: Make a date to go Valentine’s Day shopping. You can burn 485 calories by browsing for just three hours. Bonus: loading and unloading a car for about 20 minutes burns 72 calories!

5. Grow a garden: Set aside one hour a week with your best girl friends to get down and dirty in a brand new garden. Grow your own vegetables and then enjoy a fresh garden salad after you’ve weeded out 270 calories in just one hour!

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/are-your-friendships-making-you-gain-weight-574681/

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