I don’t know about you, but trying to get outside and go for a run in the winter time is nearly impossible. If you’re a skier or snowboarder, your exercise routine is set at the slopes; but for the rest of us, the gym can get monotonous.
Never fear, there are a surprising (and dare I say, fun) amount of outdoor activities that burn a ton of calories.
Snow removal doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Well, maybe it is – but you can feel good about the fact that, while shoveling, you’re burning 298 calories an hour.
Ice skating doesn’t need to be on a rink. Head out to a local lake or pond and burn 357 calories an hour practicing your figure skating moves.
Hiking isn’t just for the warmer months; you’ll be surprised how quickly you get tired. No wonder – you’re burning 408 calories an hour.
Take that hike to the next level and pop on your snowshoes. You’ll burn a tremendous 417 calories per hour.
Get outside with the kids
Take a load off and lay at the snow with this cold weather pastime: snow angels. Doing horizontal jumping jacks burns 214 calories per hour.
Building a snowman? You’ll burn 285 calories an hour. That’s worth building a whole snow family – and don’t forget the dog.
Building in the snow is fun, but throwing it around is too. Having a snowball fight will burn 319 calories an hour.
Last but not least…head back to the slopes with your toboggan. Sledding burns a whopping 357 calories per hour.
Note: All of the calorie statistics are based on a 40 year old, 150 lb. woman.
Nicki Hicks is a fitness and nutrition enthusiast with a passion for all things healthy and organic. A web marketing specialist and search geek at flyte new media by day, Nicki works to increase her clients’ search engine visibility. By night, you might find Nicki coaching, practicing yoga, or pretending to be an artist. Nicki regularly contributes to the Guiding Stars blog.