The more frequent your workouts, the faster your weight loss – the equation is simple; the effort sometimes is not. So what can you do to burn calories outside of the gym? Plenty! Here are 5 very simple ideas:

Hot to burn calories by using the stairs You know choosing the stairs over the elevator or the escalator burns calories – but do not stop there, says Pierre Garcia of New York City’s Peak Performance.

“You can even exercise in the stairwell, by doing a set of squats on each landing,” he says. “The point is to keep moving.”

How to burn calories with resistance bands Bring elastic resistance bands to work and do a few lunchtime leg extensions under your desk, suggests Nikki Noya of the Sports Club/LA in New York City. Or, attach bands to a door at home and exercise while you watch TV.

How to burn calories with a jump rope Not only is skipping rope an activity you can do at home, but you can burn between 200 and 400 calories in 30 minutes of vigorous jumping, depending on your weight and pace, says Carolyn Appel of Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City. “Even a couple of minutes will rev up your metabolism – it’s high-intensity and takes great skill.”

How to burn calories by cleaning “The best everyday activity you can do is clean. Whether you’re reorganizing your closet or vacuuming, if you’re working intensely, you could burn about 200 calories after 30 minutes,” Garcia says.

How to burn calories with a pedometer “You’ll be motivated to walk everywhere,” Noya says. “An extra 2,000 steps a day is roughly a mile and burns an additional 100 calories.” [via]