When I saw this headline for the Business Insider article, I immediately clicked on it. I’m all about easy ways to cut calories! And actually, the suggestions aren’t bad. For example:

1. Taking a leisurely walk for an hour burns about 200 calories. Again, you gotta walk for an hour – but still.
2. Bowling! That’s right! Tossing that ball down the lane will burn 219 calories in an hour. (If you drink beer while you’re bowling – you’re having a great time but not gaining the physical benefits.)
3. A casual bike ride (under 10 miles an hour) burns nearly 300 calories in an hour. I’ve yet to find a flat spot in Asheville to enjoy that casual ride – unless I want to ride around the track at Carrier Park. (By the way, look out for those cyclists who are training for God knows what – they’re mean and they will run you over!)
4. If you carry your clubs while you golf, you’ll burn over 300 calories an hour. Good luck with that. I’ve yet to see anyone around Asheville willing to hike the hills to hit a little white ball. It’s too much fun riding around in those little golf carts.
5. Casual downhill skiing or snowboarding: 314 calories per hour. Let’s start with the word casual. My experience is that there is absolutely nothing casual about this – between trying to stay upright and not getting run over by maniacal snowboarders, I’m exhausted within 15 minutes. Does stress burn more calories, by chance?
6. Knock out 511 calories by going ice skating for an hour. Anyone else think this is not going to end well? How many calories does one burn hobbling around on crutches, anyway?

Perhaps you’ll be more inspired by this list than I’ve been. It seems the safest thing that I can do is walk, leisurely.