7 Outdoor Exercise Options for Healthy Weight Loss ...

1. Swimming

You could swim at the local recreation center, but getting outside lets you soak up some rays while burning calories at the same time. This is one of the most ideal outdoor exercise options if you have kids because you can have fun while getting in a workout at the same time. What mom isn’t down for that? An hour of swimming burns several hundred calories. Just don’t forget your sunscreen, or you’ll be suffering for days afterward.

2. Biking

I’d forgotten the thrill of the wind in my hair and the freedom that a bike ride offers until I bought one as an adult. When I found out that I could burn over 500 calories with an hour's bike ride, I hopped right on. Wear a helmet to protect yourself if you fall off your bike, and tour your neighborhood trails until you find your favorite.

3. Walking

Walking is great for beginners because you can go as fast or as slow as you want to. If you haven’t exercised in a while, starting your routine with walking builds endurance and helps you drop some excess weight. After all, you can burn about 200 calories per hour just going for a walk! Who could ask for more?

4. Yoga

Yoga doesn’t have to be something you do in the studio. If you live in a trendy area, chances are yoga groups meet right in the park. While you burn calories, you can make new friends and show off your Downward Dog to passing pedestrians. You can burn a few hundred calories doing yoga for an hour. What’s stopping your from heading down to the park right now?

5. Team Sports

If you have a competitive streak, team sports are the outdoor exercise option for you. Most burn hundreds of calories per hour and you can benefit from both practicing by yourself and participating in games. Most cities have leagues that the public can join, which means you can find your sport nearby. Basketball, baseball, golf and tennis are fun ideas.

6. Skating

Step out of the disco roller rink and into the sunny outdoors for a fun variation on a workout that doesn’t even feel like exercise. Strap on a pair of rollerblades and whiz through the park or around your block. After you burn nearly 400 calories, head home and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

7. Playing

There’s something to be said for playing, and spending time with your kids (or someone else’s) lets you do just that, without strange looks or questioning glances. Run up and down the stairs at the playground, go back and forth across the monkey bars or spin the merry-go-round for a while. Toss a football back and forth, whip a Frisbee to and from your child or a friend, or play some volleyball on the weekend. Playing can burn hundreds of calories and it won’t feel like something you dread.

I like to exercise when I can do it out of a structured setting. How do you feel about exercise? What’s your favorite way to break a sweat?