It may not be foremost in your mind, but celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee could do wonders for your bingo wings...
Tone up for Great Britain!
Whether you're excited about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee or not, there is calorie-burning potential in the forthcoming long weekend of patriotism.
Extensive testing of six adults in strict lab conditions by Littlewoods.com reveals the following extraordinary fitness fact: an hour spent waving a small Union Jack flag will burn off an amazing 139 calories.
Yes! So you can chomp down on that extra street-party sausage roll (well, part of it, anyway).
Geoff Middleton from the University of Lincoln, School of Sport and Exercise Science, conducted the testing. He says, 'If you are going to attend a Jubilee street party or a Torch Relay, get yourself a flag.
'Waving enthusiastically can increase calorific expenditure by 66% compared to standing still and not waving a flag at all. Flag waving predominantly uses the muscles of the upper arms, shoulders and upper torso - so either get two flags or change your waving arms frequently otherwise you may notice the difference in your arms at the end of the summer.'
Sound advice. And just think - there's a whole summer of flag waving potential ahead of you: the Diamond Jubilee, Euro 2012, the Torch Relay, London 2012.
Madonna, eat your heart out...
