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By: Sarah McWilliams
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of beach season. By now you’re probably sick of the treadmill and desperately trying
to squeeze back into last year’s summer dresses and bikinis. It seems like it’s such a struggle to get that perfect summer body filled with endless days in the gym doing another boring workout. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Summer is a great time to get outside and earn that beach body back the fun way. Here are five fun ways to get fit for summer without stepping foot in a gym:
1. Hiking
Spending one hour hiking burns about 405 calories.* Hiking is an enjoyable way to see great scenery and burn calories. The best part about a hike is that you can go as fast or slow as you want. It can be a nice Sunday morning stroll, or you can turn it into a jog or run and get in a good training session in while you’re out.
Hiking is also a great way to help prevent future injuries, because the different foot strikes that happen when you’re on uneven terrain work to build and stretch different muscle groups. Just be careful to watch your step, because rocks or roots could result in a twisted ankle.
Visit http://www.localhikes.com/ for a list of hikes in your area.
2. Canoeing
Not to be confused with “cabrewing,” a popular term for canoeing while drinking excess amounts of beer, canoeing is a great way to burn 306 calories per hour* if you are, of course, paddling. You don’t have to be woodsy or outdoorsy to enjoy a leisurely canoe ride down a river in your area.
With tank top season in full bloom, an added bonus of canoeing is that you’re getting a great arm workout in as well. So hit a river nearby, grab a friend and enjoy a canoe trip while getting in shape.
3. Backyard volleyball
Who says you need a beach to play volleyball? Backyards make great volleyball courts. An hour of playing backyard volleyball burns around 234 calories*. As long as you don’t take yourself too seriously, volleyball can be a great time for even the most uncoordinated people.
If you prefer the sand or don’t want to purchase a net, most major cities also have sand volleyball courts in parks. Pack up the family and head to the park for a day of friendly competition and a good, fun workout.
4. Bike rides
Get off the stationary bike and hit the road with family and friends for a bike ride. An hour-long bike ride burns almost 600 calories* and works your legs and glutes to get that booty in shape for your bikini. Many major cities offer great infrastructure for bikers, and your city may have great bike paths that you don’t even know about. Bike paths are typically listed on cities’ official websites, so check out what your local area has to offer.
5. Frisbee
Frisbee is a cheap fun way to get outside, soak up some vitamin D and burn some calories. You can play Frisbee with your pooch or a group of friends. All you need is an open space and, of course, the Frisbee. You don’t just have to toss the Frisbee back and forth. If you have a group of people you can set up Frisbee golf or start a Frisbee football match. Throwing a Frisbee for an hour will burn around 200 calories.*
