Summertime offers novice and experienced exercisers more options for exercise than any other season. Take advantage of the weather and enjoy sports or activities outdoors that help you stay in shape and lose weight, and have more fun doing it. Create your own summer workout programs that encourage you to get off the treadmill and benefit from the multitude of possibilities of exercising outdoors. Longer days and warmer weather are just two of the perks of summer. A few ideas are sure to get you thinking about creating an effective, fun and calorie-burning workout.
Walking Program
Create a walking program that burns fat, tone muscles and allows you to benefit from pleasant evenings and longer days. Start off by walking two to three times a week. Walk one mile and gradually increase both your pace and your distance over 12 weeks. For example, start walking at a 2- or 3-miles-per-hour pace for the first week, walking one to two miles around a track or your local park. By week 12, you can be walking 4 miles per hour and traveling as much asa five miles, suggests the ExRx website. Adjust your own schedule to your current fitness level.
Swimming Programs
Access to a swimming pool can offer cardiovascular, endurance and muscle-toning benefits. Cool off, enjoy a low-impact workout and burn calories all at the same time. If you're new to swimming, start off slowly, suggests author Bill Volckening. Swimming is a good exercise for those who are overweight or obese, and is also easy on the joints. Volckening suggests swimming for about 30 seconds, then resting an equal amount of time. If you can swim longer, using a breaststroke, backstroke or overhand stroke, do so. Kick with your feet while you swim. Start off swimming one lap, then gradually increase both the number of laps and your speed as you grow stronger and fitter. Swim two to three days a week for weight-loss, cardiovascular and stamina results.
Sporting Activities
Summertime offers the opportunity to play a variety of sports with friends and colleagues. Join a summer softball or baseball team and gain the cardiovascular and muscle-toning benefits of running bases, swinging for hits and chasing fly balls. Learn how to roller-blade or play tennis or play a game of basketball or Frisbee golf with friends. Incorporate a fun activity or sport into your exercise routine at least twice a week if possible. The key is to have fun and stay active. Keep your activities fun and you won't think so much about how many calories you're burning. Every sport or activity you engage in will provide benefits for your heart, lungs and stamina. You'll lose or maintain weight, increase muscle tone and benefit from social contact as well.
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