Summer is finally here! Fewer and smaller pieces of clothing are in order. This provides motivational qualities to stay on top of working out, so we feel and look our very best. The heat however can also throw a wrench in that theory if you prefer to avoid overly air-conditioned gyms. Whether you are in the city, or have the pleasure of being at a cottage up north, there are many fun and exciting ways to burn calories and remain active in the scorching heat. Before hitting your local patio or BBQ with friends, here are a few different ideas to try that are fun and perhaps even challenging. Getting in your daily activity doesn’t have to follow the standard trip to the gym. Be open to thinking outside the box and indulge in fun and out of the ordinary activities. Trying something new will not only make you smile but will indulge your sense of adventure and use a whole new set of muscles you didn’t know you had.
It’s always my first choice to be on a lake near a forest, far away from the city noise, whenever possible. But if it’s one of those weekends where you just are not able to head north, or you prefer the city, here are a few fun options to try.
If team sports are to your liking, head to the local beach or park. Here you will find pickup games of volleyball, baseball, soccer, even badminton or tennis. People are friendly and typically will be open to allowing you to join in if you just ask. You could join a summer volleyball or baseball league as well for ongoing outdoor entertainment. At the city park or beach you can swim, rollerblade, run or go for a long power walk. Stopping along the way to add in a few pushups or step ups on a park bench will create an added challenge and increase your enjoyment. Stop by the park and play on the slide, pump your legs and see how high you can get on the swings, crawl on the jungle gym, do pull-ups on the bars or perhaps a game of tag is in order.
If you don’t have kids of your own, borrow a friend’s or neighbour’s – they will be happy to hand them over for an hour or two. What kid ever turned down a game of tag? All you have to do is ask. Burn a ton of calories, increase the strength of your heart and legs while you get a kickass ab workout with all the laughing you will be doing. Go to your local pool and do laps, play dodgeball, have races to see who can complete the most laps in ten minutes. Have diving contests. How many times can you bob up and down without stopping? Work your lower body to the max by seeing who can make the biggest waves by doing flutter kicks while holding on to the side of the pool. Who can splash the longest? These are excellent ways to have fun under the summer sun for kids and adults alike.
(Continued in Part 2)
Sandra O’Brien is mother to the world’s three most fabulous children. She is also a Law of Attraction Life Coach, Personal Trainer, and Reiki healer. She is creator of the Bootcamp Goddess system, a female fitness program to blowtorch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside and out. She enjoys the ocean, fire walking, reading, long walks, meditation, men in linen shirts and a full moon.