5 Fun Ways To Burn Calories When You Can’t Make It To The Gym

Summer is here, and if your having trouble fitting in time at the gym and time with the family and friends, don't worry!  There's a lot of fun activities that will help you burn off some calories when you can't make it to the gym this summer.  Here's 5 fun ways to keep burning calories, and fit in time with family and friends.

So you have kids, but you have extra weight that your trying to shed off your body.  Why not hit the trampoline with your children?  Even if you don't have a trampoline in your backyard, I'm willing to bet that you know somebody that does.  Well, when you can't hit the gym, hit the trampoline!  It's a great cardio work out that will make you break a sweat, get your heart pumping, work your legs and your core, and you can do it with the kids!

When the gym is out of the question for the day, can you fit a walk in?  There are so many choices for places to go on a walk.  From taking a stroll around the park with the kids, to loading up the kids, dogs and a cooler and heading out to walk some trails at Palo Duro Canyon.  Get out of the house and get into nature!

If you can't go the the gym, go for a swim!  Swimming is a great way to burn calories and with all this heat we're seeing, it's a great way to cool off simultaneously.  Kids of all ages like to hit the pool, so next time the gym is out, fit the pool in!  Do some swimming, have fun with the kids and burn off some calories!

When you can't take a ride the the gym, just take a ride.  Riding a bicycle is proven way to burn some extra calories on those days that you can't make it to get some work-out time in.  A good 30 minute calm ride around the neighborhood will burn around 200 calories.  If you want to get a little more extreme, make it an intense ride around the neighborhood and burn up to double that!

So, with all that being said, what comes in as my most fun way to burn calories when you can't make it to the gym?

Imagine a drum-roll right here.

Frisbee Golf!  Dude, I can't tell you how much fun Frisbee Golf actually is!  If you've never tried it, head over to Thompson Park and take advantage of the free course!  This can be a way to get out with the family and walk around the park, burning calories, becoming closer as a family and all having fun trying to be the big winner.  Frisbee Golf is my favorite way to burn off extra calories on the days that I can't make it to the gym.  On any given Sunday afternoon, you just might see the Chambers clan walking around Thompson Park, frisbee discs in hand, and smiles on faces :)

When time is a factor and your family barely sees you, it's good to remind them that your there for them and take them out for some fun.  Wanting to be in shape isn't selfish, but when your consumed by it and you forget about your family and friends, well that is selfish.

There's a lot of great activities from miniature golf, to basket ball, hacky sack, or just anything else that keeps you and the family from sitting on the couch, watching TV or playing video games.

The vast majority of activities that keep you moving, like riding a bike or going for a walk, burn about 10 calories a minute.

So spend an hour out doors and being active, you'll be shocked when you meet the brand new you at the end of summer!

So on your weekends, take a break from the gym!  Get some water and sun screen, and maybe bug repellent, load up the family and take them out to one of the summer fun calorie burning activities listed above.  If your out of shape, don't make an excuse, make a change, do it for you and your family.