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By Paige Waehner, About.com Guide to Exercise since 2000

Secret Weapons of Weight Loss

Wednesday March 21, 2007

I once received an email from someone asking me how many calories she burned by chewing gum. At the time, I thought the question was a little nuts (the answer is about 11 calories an hour, if you care) but, in light of the weight problem we're struggling with in this country, every calorie counts. I'll take this opportunity to apologize to the gum-chewing woman and say chew on!

Just like chewing gum, there are other ways we can burn extra calories on a regular basis or, what I like to call, Secret Weapons of Weight Loss...clever, huh? The point is, we focus so much on blasting huge amounts of calories at one time that we forget how small movements and slight tweaks to our lives and workouts can add up to big calorie deficits if we can find the patience to do them on a regular basis. Want to know what they are? Check out my new article, Secret Weapons of Weight Loss, to get some ideas on how to burn more calories every day.

Comments

March 21, 2007 at 7:13 pm
(1) Vincent Iannelli, MD says:

the answer is about 11 calories an hour

Since gum, even sugarless gum, has 5 to 10 calories per stick, just make sure you keep chewing the same piece over and over if you want to lose weight. ;->

March 22, 2007 at 1:15 am
(2) Mikaela says:

I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia. What is the best exercise for a lady with these disease?

March 22, 2007 at 3:15 am
(3) Mason says:

I don’t know what Lupus is but I have a friend with Fibromyalgia and she swims and pilates for exercise.

March 22, 2007 at 9:31 am
(4) cj says:

how many calories can you lose if you have sex for 7 hours straight… and how much weight can you lose if you havesex everyday for atleast 2hours and30 minutes…?.

March 22, 2007 at 10:09 am
(5) Alyssa says:

I wish I had time to have sex for 2 hours and 30 minutes…rock on!!

March 22, 2007 at 10:48 am
(6) bobby says:

cj. u are dreaming

March 22, 2007 at 2:02 pm
(7) beep[ers2007 says:

I have had acute pancreatitis in the past will I have another attack like that again?

March 22, 2007 at 2:39 pm
(8) Jenna says:

all i have tgo say is wow!

March 22, 2007 at 2:39 pm
(9) Jenna says:

all i have to say is wow!

March 22, 2007 at 2:56 pm
(10) John says:

How do I meet CJ?

March 22, 2007 at 4:20 pm
(11) Barry says:

Is that 2 1/2 hours with yourself or with someone else? lol

March 22, 2007 at 10:05 pm
(12) Trident Chewer says:

Sugarles gum does not have 5 to 10 calories.

March 22, 2007 at 10:16 pm
(13) britt says:

sugarless gum has zero calories duh

March 23, 2007 at 7:55 am
(14) I. Blinkalot says:

I’ve been telling folks for years, you want washboard abs?–Try blinking more.

Hey John, if you wanna meet cj dont be shy, just ask for his number.

March 23, 2007 at 9:52 am
(15) K-tea says:

Is Cj a boy or a girl?

March 23, 2007 at 4:52 pm
(16) chermith says:

WELL I WENT ON A STRICK DIET JUST CHEWING GUM ON SUNDAYS AND SATUERDAYS

March 23, 2007 at 10:21 pm
(17) connie says:

c.j. is a boy it said so in one of the answers. And you cannot have sex for 7 hours, it would get very sore if you are a girl.

March 23, 2007 at 10:32 pm
(18) Tom9641 says:

Not to be negative here Paige but what is your point. What you wrote is what 10’s of others wrote, i.e., do this and lose 20 lbs. over a year or do that and lose 15 lbs. over a year. What I want to know from people who write like this is how does it effect me here and now, this week and next. No matter how much I exercise I cannot lose more than 2 lbs. per week which I understand is the norm. In one example you state one can lose 36 lbs. a year which breaks down to 3 lbs. a month or almost 1 lb. per week. Are you saying that if I do this and do the other things you state I can increase my weight loss to 5, 6, or 7 or whatever lbs. per week? I don’t think so. So back to my original question – what is the point?

March 25, 2007 at 3:01 pm
(19) Marina says:

I try to do it. Thank you for your lesson/

March 26, 2007 at 10:16 pm
(20) cindy says:

your comments are all to funny.. I think you have mistaken a fitness site for some other site..lol
Anyway, I was going to comment as i am a trainer but you all are way to interested in CJ ..

March 27, 2007 at 12:34 am
(21) ron says:

Chewing gum when it so no longer sweet,for hours together is like a ruddy punishment.And Oh!,not to forget sweet gum has some calories too.Best is to go hit the road and perhaps you can chew gum while running.Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

March 27, 2007 at 3:22 am
(22) Anni says:

is not only to chew Gum that will make you lose weight but to chew it with an empty stomach will help you most.

March 27, 2007 at 4:51 am
(23) DeeBee says:

Chewing gum especially sugarfree)helps to loose weight, if you want to push the point, by distracting your mind from real food. Try chewing whislt preparing a meal, you will be less tempted to pick and nibble (no I’m not refferring to CJ)

March 28, 2007 at 12:01 am
(24) CINDY SENAT says:

hello, i would like to know the best diet pill out there that really works and if there is anyone that knows a workout center that i can also take my 10mos old and 2yr. old i live in nyc/ bronx

March 28, 2007 at 12:06 am
(25) CINDY SENAT says:

i have thyroid diseases hypo, i need a diet pill or plan cause working out for me is harder then others cause of my thyroid can anyone give me any advice ?i take synthroid meds.

March 28, 2007 at 8:43 am
(26) yeochief says:

I hate to burst Trident chewer’s bubble, but I checked two popular brands of sugarless gum in the store yesterday, and they have up to 5 calories per stick. Sugarless doesn’t mean calorie free.

March 30, 2007 at 9:59 pm
(27) Mo says:

Cindy – my husband also has hypothyroidism & takes synthroid as well. Try keeping your (bad) carbs down, eating at regular intervals (5 small meals/day rather than 3 OR 3 (smaller meals) with a healthy snack in between). This will help keep your blood sugar in check, which helps tremendously. Also, writing everything you eat down daily (calories, fat, carbs..) is so helpful as well. Working out 5 or 6 times a week if possible, and the spin class twice/wk is extremely helpful for him. Also, be sure to add strength training (muscle burns up to 50x more calories than fat) to your workout. We have not found a pill that is a good answer. Last year he followed the “3 Apple a Day Diet” to the letter and it worked great for him. He’s not been following it as strictly, but has done well at keeping his weight down. It worked well as a guideline for him. Good luck!

April 13, 2007 at 6:03 pm
(28) maggie says:

Yep, sugar free gum DOES have calories. It says 5 per stick on both packs I have.

May 13, 2007 at 10:14 pm
(29) bigmama says:

i need some inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 31, 2007 at 3:58 pm
(30) june says:

How many calories does the gum, Extra, have per stick?

June 2, 2007 at 10:03 pm
(31) sam says:

hey i used to be really chubby
now i have a perfect diet that made me skinny without losing any weight or dieting.

its called i run 70-90 minutes a day. i eat whatever (litterally) whatever i want to, and i am as skinny as can be. i went from a bmi of 26 to now 18.6. the real secret to losing weight and getting slim? EXERCISE. DIET ALONE WILL NOT DO IT.

although, i really only lost about 10 lbs, i just, as my doctor put it, replaced my fat with lean muscle. try it, i promise it will work.

June 11, 2007 at 9:25 am
(32) tkownqmzid says:

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! sfmbfswatizx

January 21, 2008 at 9:31 pm
(33) Francis says:

I really found this article to be helpful. It was a different outlook that I’ve never heard of before. I look forward to you writing more articles.

July 14, 2008 at 11:36 pm
(34) Kaitie says:

hey cindy
i have a thyroid condition as well, hyper
the meds im on (tapazole) make me gain weight and i have to watch what i eat
i know what you go through

August 14, 2008 at 9:55 am
(35) Bhavika says:

hey folks – ive been on a diet called lighterlife for the last 4 months and in that time i have lost 5.7 stones. i can now get on a plane and have the dinner tray flat rather than resting on my belly. haha – i also train in the gym 5 times a week. The gym has become a religion to me. lighterlife was the best and quickest diet i have ever done after numerous failures and many other diets. i can now live my life slim, happy, sexy and more importantly HEALTHY!!

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