Urinating uses up 141 calories per hour

My next book is about health, so I got a fitbit (in case you missed its debut last year, it’s a souped-up pedometer that measures your calorie intake and output).

The best part? You can record an activity on the fitbit website, and it will tell you how many calories you’ve expended. And not just for jogging or walking or playing tennis. Any activity. The list is absurdly long – hundreds of them. Here, a sampling of some of my favorites:

Cooking Indian bread on an outside stove – 211 calories per hour

Vacuuming – 246 calories per hour

Sexual activity – vigorous effort – 105 calories per hour (sadly, it doesn’t say which acts count as vigorous)

Sexual activity — – general, moderate effort – 91

Sexual activity – passive, light effort, kissing, hugging – 70 calories

Horse grooming – 422 calories

Navy Seal scuba diving – 844 calories

Sitting in meetings and talking – 105 calories

Anishinaabe Jingle Dancing or other traditional American Dancing — 387 calories per hour

Kneeling in church – 70 calories

Standing and singing in church – 141 calories

Urinating – 141 calories

Casino gambling – 162 calories

Basketball game – 562 calories

Walking for pleasure – 246 calories

Shuffleboard – 211 calories