Ditch the Gym and Try These 8 Outdoor Activities
Ah, summer. The sun is warm, the drinks are cold and you don’t want to spend any time stuck inside a dark gym. Luckily, you don’t have to! You can stay fit and active while enjoying your time outdoors. Here are eight fun-in-the-sun workouts you must try this season.
WALKING
Why get stuck on the treadmill when the weather is so beautiful? Walking is a great way to get outdoors, breathe in some fresh air and sneak in your daily workout. Walking at a moderate pace can burn 280 calories an hour in a 150-pound adult.
Getting yourself a fitness tracker could help. A small…
SWIMMING AND WATER EXERCISE
When it’s hot outside, it feels great to take a dip in the pool, ocean or lake. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swimming and other water-based exercises offer a number of benefits, especially for people with arthritis. Swimming helps those with rheumatoid…
BIKING
Riding a bike is a fun way to get where you’re going—and get fit on your way there. An easy ride can burn 290 calories an hour, while more vigorous pedaling can burn nearly 600. Unfortunately, there are several injuries associated with biking. Hospital admissions for bike injuries more than doubled…
GOLF
Next time you hit the green, do your waistline a favor and skip the golf cart; walking and carrying your clubs can burn up to 330 calories per hour. Just watch your back when you’re shouting “fore!” A 2014 analysis found that lower back pain was the most common health complaint of golfers,…
TENNIS
Not only is tennis a great workout, but there’s something satisfying about whacking the ball over the net, too! Singles tennis can burn up to 549 calories per hour, according to the American Cancer Society. Plus, tennis can strengthen your muscles; running and jumping helps keep your legs toned…
GARDENING AND YARD WORK
Staying fit might be a compelling reason to knock out some of your chores. Light gardening or pushing a lawnmower can burn about 330 calories per hour. Cut the grass, plant some flowers and two hours later you’ll have burned the equivalent of a Big Mac, with a little room to spare.
LAWN SPORTS
Now that you’ve mowed the lawn, it’s time to play yard games. Playing a game of Frisbee or horseshoes will burn about 200 calories an hour, and croquet can burn 225. But if you really want to turn up the heat, try Ultimate Frisbee. It’s fun, fast-paced and can help you shed 544 calories.
PADDLING
Canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding aren’t just for sightseeing—they can help you stay active. Paddling a canoe will net you about 240 calories per hour, while kayaking is a little more vigorous, burning about 340 calories per hour. Stand-up paddleboarding is a serious workout that can…
