The winter chill is starting to melt away, so it's time to get outside and enjoy the weather with some spring activities that burn calories! For most of us, the air is getting warmer and the sun is saying hello again. All I want to do is enjoy some of this beautiful weather, and there are some great ways to enjoy it while burning some of that winter insulation away. These spring activities that burn calories are so fun, you just might forget they are giving you a workout at all!
In the line-up of spring activities that burn calories, kayaking is pretty great. The average person will burn upwards of 160 calories in 30 minutes from light to moderate kayaking. Kayaking also gives your core and upper body a major toning workout from the cross motion paddling. Unlike other outdoor activities like surfing or mountain climbing, kayaking can be done most anywhere; all you need is a bit of water. This is also a great way to relax and take in all the beauty of spring while you work-it!
You ready for this? Ascending rock climbing can burn upwards of 400 calories per 30 minutes! That is some massive calorie burn! Rock climbing is also great for the legs, back, and arms. If you do not live in a place outfitted with rocks for climbing, there are plenty of indoor rock climbing facilities. Most indoor facilities have walls ranging in difficulty and group and private lessons for all the novices out there.
The effects of swimming range from therapeutic to a massive cardio workout. One of the best workouts I have ever gotten was during my lifeguard certification. We were only in a pool, but the laps mixed with rescue routines gave me a run for my fitness money. If you have the ocean available to you, swimming in the water can burn as much as 400 calories in 30 minutes. At 500 calories per hour, moderate swimming in a pool is nothing to sneeze at either.
Whether your beach if fresh or salty, walking in knee to thigh-high water can give a major cardio burn and work our bum and thigh muscles. To increase your calorie burn, try a few minutes of jogging in water. Water-jogging can burn as many as twelve calories per minute! The best part of this workout is how refreshed you will feel after. No need to shower when you are standing in the perfect dunk tank.
One of the best ways to enjoy this wonderful spring weather is by going for a walk. A hike outdoors can be therapeutic for our joints, and our stressful lives. Depending on your hike’s intensity, you can burn anywhere from 200 to 250 calories in 30 minutes. Not too bad for a relaxing way to enjoy the great outdoors!
Paddleboarding is a great way to burn calories and get some major muscle toning. Sitting, kneeling, and standing on a paddleboard will work all different muscles and give us quite the calorie burn. Depending on the intensity and activity level, you can burn anywhere from 250 to 400 calories in 30 minutes! There are plenty of paddleboarding tours available in most coastal regions, along with paddleboarding training sessions and yoga classes for those who really want a challenge.
Few things scream spring more than riding a horse through a field of flowers. Okay, my vision of horseback riding may be a bit on the side of fairytale, but the calorie burn is not. Horseback riding can burn as much as 500 calories an hour. Pretty good for an activity that keeps you seated the entire time.
Outdoor activities are a great way to get some exercise, enjoy nature, and get our daily dose of Vitamin D. Spring is beautiful in almost any part of the world. What are some of your favorite ways to take advantage of this beautiful season?