Best Outdoor Activities for Weight Loss

Spending some time outside has always been considered beneficial for our health, but did you know that some activities, when done outdoors, can be far more efficient for burning calories than their indoors counterparts? One of them is running vs. treadmill running. Namely, running outdoors requires more oxygen, and thus burns more calories. Besides providing better results, outdoor sports are more interesting, engaging and dynamic. So, if you want to lose weight in a fun and efficient way, you should just go out and get moving. Here are some of the best outdoor sports for achieving that.

Hiking

This is a great way to burn calories and get in shape. You can take daily walks in the park, or hike in the mountains. The number of calories burned will depend on your body weight, intensity of your exercises and the difficulty of the terrain and even the weight of the backpack you are carrying, but, essentially your body can burn between 250 and 500 calories during one hour of hiking.

Kayaking

Kayaking is a sport with many benefits, although its contribution to weight loss is often neglected. One hour of paddling can burn up to 400 calories per hour, depending on the intensity, and it can serve as great weight training for arms and upper body part (chest, back, stomach). The sport is relaxing, challenging, but it is also a fun social activity.

Rollerblading

This is a convenient and fun way to lose weight. There are many factors determining the number of burned calories (weight, intensity, terrain, etc.). A gentle ride over a flat pavement can burn as little as 80 calories, but when all the factors are on your side you can burn up to 900 calories per hour. This activity improves cardiovascular health and it is great for working out hamstrings, calves and the lower back.

BIKING

On average, a cyclist riding at a moderate pace can burn around 650 calories per hour, while a mountain cyclist can burn around 900. This terrain also provides more thrill and captivating natural sceneries. Professionals from Eurocycles claim that it is also good to use electric bike at first, especially if you have excess weight, to manage the intensity and the effort and improve fitness one day at the time. Additionally, biking is useful for toning the glutes, and working on calves, shins, hamstrings and quadriceps.

Swimming

This is the perfect way to torch calories if you have problems with some areas, like knees and back, because it puts no stress on your body. Depending on the style, intensity, your weight and metabolism, swimming can burn between 90 and 550 calories in one session lasting just half an hour. If you love water sports, but want even better results, you can decide for water aerobics.

Surfing

Another fun water sport, surfing requires skill and dedication. There are many factors influencing the number of burned calories, including the height and the frequency of the waves, but essentially, you can burn between 200 and 300 calories per hour. Paddling to catch the wave activates your upper back and shoulder, while riding on the wave impacts your lower body, shoulders and core. When the wave hits the board, it causes muscle contraction, giving your core muscles a great workout.

Volleyball

It is the perfect team sport when you need some extra support for your weight loss endeavor. Beach volleyball, compared to its indoors counterpart, requires more effort, because it is not done on solid surface. It can burn up to 700 calories per hour and treat you with an amazing sun-kissed tan. The sport strengthens the upper body, shoulders and arms.

Tennis

This sport helps you improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness, speed, coordination and flexibility, but it also helps you torch up to 400 calories per hour. Its best perk is the ability to burn all of the body fat equally, thus keeping your body ideally toned. Now we know why the all the players on the ATP list are so slim.

It is obvious that the results of outdoor exercising outweigh the ones of their indoor counterparts. If you know some other outdoor sports to help you lose weight, go for it!