Fun Activities that Just Happen to Promote a Healthy Weight

It can take a lot of time, energy, funds, and mental anguish to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Sure, those exercise DVDs can get old and walking or running can only go so far toward accommodating your fun-loving personality. Going to the gym or repeating the same neighborhood routes can cause mental fatigue that works against your motivation to lose weight and stay healthy. Weight loss doesn’t have to be boring, so try some of the following ways to have fun with your active lifestyle.

Borrow a Page from the Playground

Play tag at the park or even in your own front yard if there’s enough space. If you have kids, they’ll enjoy chasing you and being chased, so it’s a great way to spend some quality family time while keeping your weight in check. You can even call your friends and schedule some time to play tag with other adults, too. Another option is to grab a friend (or a bunch of friends) and play basketball, soccer, or tennis. Competition is always fun, and you can raise the stakes by making the loser pay for or make a healthy lunch like Greek salad or grilled chicken stir fry.

Get Out There

Pack a healthy picnic lunch, then take a bike ride, go hiking, or canoe/kayak for the rest of the morning. Being out in the sun and fresh air makes everything seem like more fun, and you’ll definitely enjoy seeing some beautiful scenery, especially if you choose to go somewhere you haven’t been yet. All of these activities can get your heart rate up while improving your mood and making you smile.

Just Dance

If you’re frustrated and stressed, turn on some of your favorite music and dance it out. If you’re not a dancer, you can find some inexpensive DVDs to help you learn exercise moves that mimic dancing. Once you learn some moves, you can improvise whenever you need to get rid of stress, so don’t even think about eating that cookie.

Check Out Power Yoga

Power yoga, also called Ashtanga, vinyasa, or flow yoga, gets your heart rate up and keeps it there to help you lose weight. This type of yoga emphasizes strength and flexibility, keeping chanting and meditation very minimized and making sure that you lose fat and build muscle. It’s easy to find a class near you because power yoga has become a popular way to get exercise and maintain a healthy weight, but be sure to read difficulty level descriptions carefully so you’ll know which level is best for you.

Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.