It’s 90 degrees and that yoga routine on your living room floor isn’t feeling so great anymore. It’s time to take your workout outdoors! Whether you’re looking to lose weight or just find a fun new recreational pastime, it’s time to hit the road, trails, lakes, and make the most of these summer months with outdoor activity that’ll get your heart racing and your blood pressure dropping!
1: Hiking
….it’s like walking, but SO much better. According to Backpacker’s Pantry, “a 160-pound adult burns between 430 and 440 calories per hour of hiking. Contrast that with 550 calories burned per hour for someone who weighs 200 pounds, and you can see that the more you weigh, the more calories you’ll ultimately burn.” Besides weight loss, hiking benefits extend to improved bone density, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure levels, reduced risk for heart disease, and lower stress levels, improved mood, and enhanced mental wellbeing. And we haven’t even mentioned the views! Give yourself the gift of reconnecting with nature by exploring a fun new trail with the added perk of some gorgeous new Instagram photos. Live in a city and afraid you don’t have trails nearby? You might be surprised! Search for local hikes on AllTrails website or mobile app.
2: Stand-Up Paddleboarding
You don’t have to be an advanced athlete to pull off this super-cool fitness activity that goes by the acronym ‘SUP.’ Gili Sports reports that “on average, you’ll burn 330 to 460 calories per hour while recreational paddle boarding.” But the good news doesn’t end there; SUP engages your core muscles and builds abdominal strength and lean muscle tone, while at the same time strengthening arms, legs, back, and shoulders. So you can work on modifying that body mass from fat to muscle, all while working on your tan! Many recreation centers at state parks and local lakes rent paddleboards for the day, or you can buy your own! Inflatable SUPs are available for ease of transportation at sites such as Amazon.
3: Biking
Looking for an activity you can do absolutely anywhere, from the city to the mountains? Biking may be for you! The average person will burn between 450 to 750 calories per hour cycling. Check out this awesome calculator to find out exactly how many calories you can burn riding your bicycle, based on your BMI and the distance ridden! Ready to take the plunge into cycling but need gear? Check out specially selected products like biking shorts, fitness watches to track your mileage, and armbands for your cell phone all available now with cashback at the HealthyWage store!
These are just 3 of the dozens of ways you can opt outside and get healthy in the summer sunshine; also consider running, kayaking, beach volleyball, and outdoor yoga! And if you’re looking for a way to finance some new bathing suits this season, check out HealthyWage. These customizable challenges PAY you for hitting your weight loss goals! Play with the HealthyWage Prize Calculator to find out how much you can win in your pursuit of your perfect beach body.
