If you are watching your weight you know that occasionally you need a treat, and sometimes that treat turns out to be a little larger than you planned. (A bowl of ice cream sometimes turns into the whole tub, that slice of birthday cake at the office turns into two.) The good news is, however, that there are a lot of treats you can burn off just by stepping up your workouts a bit. Below are some common treats and the amount of time you would need to work out to burn them off. Keep in mind these are estimates, as the actual amount of time you need to work out varies with many factors, such as your weight, your fitness level, and others. And remember that an occasional treat is not only okay, it’s good for you!
One slice of pizza, with a cheese-stuffed crust (300 calories)
Sometimes you just need an extra cheesy snack. Run for 30 minutes (a 10 minutes mile) to burn this snack off. Or try playing golf for 45 minutes.
Two Godiva Chocolate Truffles (220 calories)
Mmmm. Clean your house for an hour or play basketball for 40 minutes to burn this yummy snack off.
One cup of ice cream (400 calories)
Play racquetball for 30 minutes or golf for two hours to take care of this treat. The calories will vary with brands and flavors, so check the nutritional label before you indulge.
Chocolate glazed donut (220 calories)
This is actually one of the lower calorie treats if you are craving sweets (who knew?) Work in your garden for 30 minutes or go for a 30 minute bike ride to work this off.
Burger King Double Whopper (900 calories “ ouch)
If you run a 9 minute mile, you would still have to run for almost two hours to burn this one off. A regular cheeseburger from McDonald’s only has 250 calories “ you could eat two and still not have to run so far. But, sometimes you just need the Whopper.
McDonald’s large French fries (500 calories)
Do laps in the pool for an hour or play racquetball for 30 minutes to burn off this salty treat. A small size fries has 250 calories, so for half the workout you can still have this snack if you practice portion control.
Nachos with beef, beans and cheese (800 calories)
Delicious but costly – go skiing or running for an hour to take care of this snack. This treat can really vary, depending on what you like with your nachos (sour cream and queso add more, skipping the beef can lessen the damage.)
Taco Bell Fiesta Chicken Burrito (350 calories)
Go for a nice hour long walk (keep it brisk, though) to burn this snack off. This is a good choice when you are craving Mexican, as some Mexican treats can really add up (see nachos above.)
Dairy Queen Large Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard (1320 calories “ yikes!)
Aim to burn this off over several days instead of trying to work out for hours. Play golf for two hours the first day, walk briskly for an hour the second day, and spend an hour cleaning your house or apartment the third day.
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