GYM-DODGERS, rejoice – ditching the dumbbells and diving into a bubble bath could help you shed pounds. A long soak can shift as many calories as conventional exercise, according to a new study. Boffins found that those who took a dip in 40°C (104°F) bath water for an hour burned around 140 calories – the same as taking a 30-minute walk or enjoying a 20-minute swim. But it’s not just kicking back in the tub with a book that could help you get trim. That all-important calorie burn can be clocked up simply by laughing, watching a scary film or even having a snog. Here are seven low-effort activities that could help you burn fat fast. Scare yourself silly Calories burned: up to 184 per film Watching a horror movie can increase your heart rate and, in turn, burn calories – depending on how terrifying it is, a Westminster University study found. So skip the rom-coms and go for the most frightening flick you can handle. Jack Nicholson's horror The Shining came out top in the study, with an 184-calorie burn, followed by the shark-attack classic Jaws at 161 calories. That’s as much as a 30-minute walk and you won’t move a muscle, other than to jump out of your skin. Hit the snooze button Calories burned: 40 per hour That’s right, an hour-long snooze could see you lose 40 calories. If you’re lucky enough to bag a solid night’s kip, you’ll not only wake up feeling restored and energised, but you’ll have burned around 300 calories overnight – from the comfort of your beloved bed. Sleep recharges your metabolism, too, so you’ll rise with a calorie-burning boost. Skipping adequate sleep can increase cortisol in your body, the hormone that makes you hold onto fat, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found. So catch those ZZZs and your jeans could feel a lot less snug. Spice up your life Calories burned: 50 per day Butter chicken and garlic naan from your local takeaway will pile on the pounds, but adding heat to your meals can work wonders in helping fight flab. Spicy foods can boost metabolism by increasing your heart rate and producing heat in the body, say nutritionists. This is down to a chemical compound called capsaicin, a chilli pepper extract found in jalapeno, cayenne and habanero peppers. Researchers found that adding a hit of heat to our diets can help our bodies burn an extra 50 calories a day. Over a year, that could bring significant weight loss, so it’s well worth spicing up your life or at least your lunch. Be a cool sipper Calories burned: up to 25 per 250ml (8oz) glass If you’re still on fire from that spicy, calorie-burning curry, then grab a glass of ice-cold water. Not only will it cool you down, it will help shift another round of calories. Experts say our bodies work hard to warm us up after we consume cold drinks, so sipping a litre of icy water could help burn up to 100 calories – without even breaking a sweat. As well as helping keep you trim, you’ll also be smashing your hydration goals. Water win-win situation. Have a laugh Calories burned: up to 40 per 15 minutes A good belly laugh not only boosts your mood, but it could also make your belly smaller. The extra movement and increased heart rate that comes with having a chuckle could lead to weight loss of around 4lbs every year, the International Journal of Obesity found. And that’s just from having a daily giggle, which burns around 10 to 20 calories in just 10 minutes. Not only that, but you’ll also reduce muscle tension, boost the amount of oxygen in your blood and produce happy endorphins to boot. Laughter really is the best medicine, so pop your favourite comedy on, pronto. Go for a soak Calories burned: up to 140 per hour Brilliant news for bath lovers: that long, indulgent soak will not only leave you well-rested and squeaky clean, but it’ll also burn a whopping 140 calories. That’s equivalent to a 15-minute jog or bike ride. An hour in a hot bath (40°C or 104°F) prompts the body to work harder to regulate its temperature, a Loughborough University study found. So take your time and treat yourself to regular hot water top-ups for maximum calorie burn. If you’re more of a shower fan, you can expect to shed a cool 300 calories with a 15-minute blast of cool water. It’ll send your metabolism soaring as your body works hard to warm up. Calories burned: up to 5 per minute In the mood for a smooch? Good news – a gentle five-minute kissing session can burn off 15 calories. But cranking things up to "heavy petting" mode could really help shift those extra pounds. With that increase in heat between you and your partner, heart and metabolic rates will soar, seeing you shed a whopping 150 calories from 30 minutes of making out. As many as 24 facial muscles engage when we kiss passionately, the American Journal of Medicine found. And, as we all know, kissing is a mental health booster that’s fun and best of all completely free.