Watch TV and burn calories too

Published 12:49 pm Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The average American watches about five hours of television a day, industry studies have shown.

Instead of being a total couch potato, try these moves to torch calories at the same time:

Keep equipment on hand. Stash small weights, resistance bands, yoga mats and fitness DVDs in your TV stand or in a nearby container so you can grab them quickly during a favorite show.

Create competitions. See how many sit-ups, push-ups, crunches or jumping jacks you can do during a commercial break.

Wear a pedometer. Walk or jog in place throughout a show and track how many steps you take.

Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)