From Keto and Atkins to intermittent fasting, there’s one immutable law of weight loss – calories in and calories out. If you want to drop the pounds, you have to have a calorie deficit and that’s non-negotiable.
In order to lower your body fat percentage and get into really great shape, no amount of fancy supplements and training programs will make up for the fact that the calories you take in have to be overridden by the calories you use up through exercise and just day-to-day movement. If you want to jumpstart your weight loss, you either need to increase the calories you burn by working out more, reduce the calories you eat or do both.
When it comes to exercise, it’s hard for it not to be a drag. For most people, running feels like a chore, especially if you have to do it a few days a week, but the good news is, that’s not the only way to burn more calories. There are many creative ways to include movement in your daily life and burn calories while you’re having a good time, instead of treating calorie burn as the main goal.
So how can you increase your calorie burn? Here are a few activities you should consider adding to your weekly regimen.
Swimming
One of the best ways to burn fat without the impact of the treadmill or running in your neighborhood is swimming. Swimming is by far one of the best ways to get a full-body workout without hurting yourself. You can burn 100 calories in 10 minutes, and the great thing is, every part of your body is going to benefit from it. You’ll tone your legs, your arms, and shoulders and burn that stubborn belly fat. While swimming is a challenge for many people, it is also a fun and gratifying way to lose weight.
Outdoor Adventures
Getting in touch with nature is really good for you mentally, and if you exercise outside, you’ll get even more benefits. There are a few outdoor activities that can help boost your weight loss efforts. For starters, taking your dog out for a walk twice a day can burn up to 300 calories. It’s also great for you mentally because it gives you a chance to relax. Even if you don’t have a dog, going for a walk and reaching the 10,000 step mark can burn an extra 500 calories a day. If you’re eating a low-calorie diet, those extra calories will create an even bigger deficit and it will show in your body fast.
If you really want to maximize your calorie burn, consider something like hiking or biking. According to Scottsdale Arizona mountain biking company, Wild Bunch Desert Guides, “outdoor adventures allow you to discover the exotic beauty and explore the amazing landscape and terrain of a location while you still get a workout in and have a ton of fun in the process.”
A Group Sport
If you can round up a few of your friends, why not sign up for a sports club and do weekly matches? Whether you choose soccer, basketball, or golf, a group activity is fun because it creates a competitive spirit, and even though you’re working hard and working up a sweat, it won’t feel like a chore and the time will absolutely fly by. Running up and down the pitch or field will burn hundreds of calories, and it will definitely feel better than being in the gym all the time. That doesn’t mean you should quit the gym entirely, but rather you want to space your gym sessions out by putting other activities in between your gym days.
Losing weight doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, if you’re constantly doing something you hate, it gets a lot harder for you to sustain the activity in the long run. Ultimately, long-term consistency beats short-term intensity, and if you come up with a fitness plan that includes activities you enjoy, it can become your long-term habit and something that you can stick with for years and years.
Many people make the mistake of trying to do something extreme, and even though they lose a ton of pounds quickly when they inevitably get tired of the intense activity, the pounds creep back. Commit more to the things that incorporate fun, and focus on lifestyle changes so you can go from sedentary to a more active individual.
