15 Fun Ways To Burn Calories

Okay, I know this title sounds contradictory since you probably associate burning calories with sweaty, tiring trips to the gym or laps around the park, but you really can get fit while you're having fun. Try these activities to slim down without even noticing!

Jumping on a Trampoline

This nostalgic activity will bring back those fun childhood summer days. Whether it’s playing with kids or just jumping on your own, a trampoline is great way to raise your heartbeat and workout your legs. You don’t need to do any fancy gymnastic jumps, just keep moving and jumping. You will be surprised at how much you feel it the next day.

Water Aerobics

As you get older, exercising gets harder and it starts to take a toll on your body. If you have stiff joints that can’t stand that pounding from running, or pressure from biking, water aerobics is your saving grace. It’s a low impact option that tones your muscles. Classes are offered at most gyms and they usually have early morning classes making it so easy to get your exercise in before work.

Kayaking

Kayaking could be one of the best upper body and core workouts. The constant twisting of your body as your push the paddles through the water really burns a lot of calories as well as tones your muscles. You can burn 500 calories if you can spend an hour on the lake or river paddling around. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Yoga

I’m sure you’ve heard multiple people speak the praises of yoga. Yoga is a great way to stretch, tone muscles, work on balance and posture, as well as distress and relax. You don’t need a gym; you can do it in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a mat or carpet and some easy to find YouTube yoga videos. Combine an hour of yoga with thirty minutes of cardio for a kick-butt workout.

Play With Kids

Are you always running after your kids? Turn it into a workout. An hour and a half of moderate playtime with the wee ones burns 500 calories! So go play tag, hide and seek, and any other games they love. It’s a great way to get them outside and you will love the extra time you get to spend with them instead of the gym.

Tennis

Ever wonder how those famous tennis players have such amazing bodies? Uh, hello? Tennis is a crazy awesome workout. It’s like cardio and muscle toning combined. Don’t worry. You don’t have to be on the same level as Venus and Serena Williams. To burn 500 calories you just need to play for an hour.

Shopping

Yes, this sounds like a joke, but it’s really not. All the walking and trying on clothes adds up to a pretty good workout. Shopping for two hours burns 500 calories. Do you need a better reason to go shopping? Next time your significant other makes fun of you for shopping, just say you are going to workout. He’ll have no idea.

Dancing

Dancing is such an effective and fun way to burn off unnecessary calories. And there are so many ways to get in your weekly dance sesh. Hit the club with the girls, dance around while you’re cleaning, have an impromptu dance party to your favorite song, of play one of those fitness dancing dvd’s for a more guided routine.

Skiing

Did you know downhill skiing was an awesome workout? The adrenaline gets your heart pumping and the arm and leg movements really help strengthen your muscles. You only need an hour of skiing to burn 500 calories! Think of that next time you just want to stay in the ski lodge and drink hot chocolate.

Belly Dancing

This is another fun, but challenging dance workout. But come one, have you seen professional belly dancers? They have the most perfect core! You might feel a little silly doing it at first because it can take some practice to get the movements right, but you will notice a big change in you abdominals.

Basketball

If you’re a basketball fan, get some friends together and play a full court game. It’s a fun thing to do when you guys need something different than your usual routine. Playing full court for an hour will burn 500 calories!

Rock Climbing

Avid rock climbers know how tired your muscles feel after climbing a few walls. Rock climbing is a sport that uses pretty much every muscle in your body. It can be challenging, but you feel so great after completing a wall. To burn 500 calories you just need to climb around for 40 minutes!

Horse Back Riding

Are you a big horse fan? If you can’t get enough of the majestic creatures, you should look at horse back riding. You and your horse really bond during the experience. Oh, and did I mention it’s a great workout and amazing for your posture! Who needs the gym when you have a horse? Just 45 minutes of riding will burn you 500 calories.

Golfing

Golfing might not seem like a strenuous workout since it’s not very face paced, but it surprisingly is a fantastic way to exercise and get some fresh air. You can burn 500 calories in an hour and half if you walk and carry your own clubs. That seems like a pretty easy workout.

Bowling

Are you on a bowling team? If not, you should reconsider and try to get in a weekly league. Bowling is a fantastic workout. Not only does is strengthen your arms, but your legs and your core as well! All you need to do is bowl for two hours, roughly two games, to burn 500 calories. Just stay away from that gross bowling alley food. That’s not going to help at all.