Burn Calories While Having Fun!
Does the thought of hitting the gym bore you to tears? How many times can you listen to the same playlist and flip through the same old magazines while you pound the treadmill for miles? If you’re like 90% of the people who have resolved to live a better life and exercise more, you’ve failed in the past. Why is that? If your active routine isn’t fun and/or exciting, chances are you won’t stick with it.
Unless you spice things up your workout simply becomes work.
Here are 7 ways to burn calories and have fun at the same time.
1) Grab a Paddle and Dive In!
Canoeing or kayaking is a wonderful way to explore the natural wilderness all around us and burn calories without even thinking about it. Calm ponds and streams are great for beginners and big lakes and the ocean give experienced paddlers enough of a challenge to keep things interesting. Take your new hobby to the next level and integrate a complimentary activity like photography or bird or wildlife- watching and you’ll never think of your weekly outing as a chore.
2) Dance Like Nobody’s Watching (Even if they Are)
Dance is a wonderfully fun way to burn a ton of calories. And you don’t even have to be any good at it to reap the rewards! Not up for cutting a rug in front of a jaded audience? Find dance classes in your local area where you can learn with other novices like yourself. Plus, going to these classes with a special someone or a group of friends will help you stay interested and motivated—both of which are guaranteed to keep you at it longer than you would alone.
You can find dance classes just about anywhere. Community groups, adult education classes, gyms and health centers—they all offer a variety of classes ranging in style from ballroom to hip-hop. So lace up those dancing shoes and get ready to tango!
(Need a little help getting into that new active wear? Try The Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet®. You can lose up to 10 pounds in just 2 days!)
3) (Window) Shop ‘Til You Drop
You’d be surprised just how much of a workout a shopping trip can be. Think about it, when you hit the outlet shops or the destination shopping locations (like Beverly Center, Fifth Avenue, Santa Monica Place, or even more plebian locations like Disney Springs) there’s a lot of walking involved. According to The Daily Mail, the average woman walks just shy of three miles during a routine shopping excursion. That’s not counting the struggle of trying on all those outfits and carrying your purchases. So how much can you burn just by browsing? Average women (weighing roughly 170 pounds here in the United States) can burn almost 400 calories in a typical 2.5-hour trip.
Just remember that it is probably best if you set a budget for yourself or leave your credit cards at home so your new healthy hobby doesn’t hurt your bank account!
Pro Tip: Shopping is usually tied to snacking and consuming comfort beverages like high-calorie coffee drinks and cocktails or wine. If you want to enjoy the benefits of the browsing without backsliding, take your own nutritious snacks instead. The Hollywood Cookie Diet® meal replacement cookies are a nutritionally balanced way to get the energy your body needs without the excess calories it doesn’t. Keep a few packages handy in your pocket or purse to curb those cravings before they get the best of you. And when it comes to those coffee drinks, black is best, but if you have to have cream opt for skim milk.
4) Hike a Little (No Matter Where You Live)
It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or in the heart of a big city like San Francisco, there’s always an opportunity for a good hike right around the corner. Many rural and suburban areas have networks of well-groomed and maintained trails laced throughout their natural beauty. Get in touch with your local wildlife preserve or conservation trust to find great trails in your area you never knew existed.
Big cities, on the other hand, often invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in greenspaces and parks crisscrossed with walking trails. In recent years, intrepid urban explorers have been creating their own networks of noteworthy hikes within city limits.
Interested in Urban hiking? Here are 10 of the best urban trails in the country.
5) Become a Cyclist (Or at Least Dig the Bike Out of the Garage)
Bicycling isn’t just for kids and exercise fanatics anymore. Cycling is quickly becoming one of the most popular alternative methods of transportation in the country. Urban areas like San Francisco and New York City, in which a significant portion of the population commutes on two wheels every day, have spent millions of dollars creating and embracing a “bike-centric” infrastructure.
Not ready to hit the road during rush hour? Try biking a few miles every weekend or enrolling in a charity ride event so there’s no pressure involved. It won’t take long before you rediscover that childhood joy of zipping along with nothing but the wind in your hair* and the hum of your tires on the road. *Please wear a helmet.
6) Hit the Court (Whichever One You Choose)
Ask around a bit and you’ll no doubt find an adult basketball, softball, volleyball, or soccer league in your area. (Don’t mind getting roughed up a bit? Try roller derby, boxing, or even martial arts.) Competitive sports are a wonderful way to ignite that spark of passion it requires to stick with an exercise routine. Plus, when you’re playing with someone else, that social interaction goes a long way toward staving off boredom that can cripple your motivation.
Can’t find a group in your area? Get some friends and/or acquaintances together for a pick-up game on the weekends and you may just start one of your own.
7) Try Something New
Whether it’s yoga with a friend, CrossFit with co-workers, or Tabata training at the fitness center, find something you’ve never done before and give it a whirl. While learning new skills takes a bit of effort, the novelty of a new routine will quash that boredom and help keep you motivated. If you find your new routine isn’t quite for you, keep looking. There are as many fun and exciting activities out there as there are individuals looking for them.
Make the Most of Your Downtime Too
But how do you keep up that forward momentum over the weekend or during the workweek? Don’t let your daily routine run you down.
The Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet® is a wonderful way to jumpstart your weight loss over the weekend. You can lose up to 10 pounds in just two days and use that success to boost your motivation to the max. Plus the product is hassle-free. Simply mix with water and drink. No mess and no stress to clutter up your you time.
