Healthy Living

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Fall fitness: 6 fun activities to get you moving

As the temperature drops and days get shorter, we still want to enjoy the outdoors.  There is no reason why we can't and there are some great activities we can do to get some exercise, all while having fun.  The best part of exercising outdoors during autumn is that you don't get overheated.  Remember, however, as days get cooler, dress more warmly to be sure you don't catch a seasonal cold!

Each activity is accompanied with a calorie burn assessment for an individual who is 130 pounds.  If you are at a different weight, you can reference the "Calories Burned Chart" on Sheer Balance to know your personal burn.  The great thing about most of these activities is that they provide both strength and cardio benefits!

1. Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking: If you live near water (lake, ocean or river), try getting in some rowing or kayaking.  Rivers aren't as full, which will make navigating more difficult terrain (white water and rapids) a bit easier. It is a great way to see the sites!

  • Targets: Upper body strength and cardio.  Rowing, however, provides a great lower body workout as well.
  • Calorie Burn: You can burn up to 413, 502 or 561 calories an hour depending on intensity (numbers are reflective of light, moderate and vigrorous intensity respectively) for rowing; and 295 calories per hour for kayaking.

2. Outdoor Bootcamp: Some cities, such as Boston, have bootcamp classes that go outbound in the nicer weather.  If you live in the Boston area, a great one to try is: Beantown Bootcamp.

  • Targets: Full body strength and cardio.
  • Calorie Burn: You can burn up to 472 calories an hour.

3. Raking Leaves: Don't ever underestimate the power of raking leaves.  It is a great activity to do with family and kids too!

  • Targets: Upper body strength with some cardio.
  • Calorie Burn: 266 calories per hour.

4. Horseback Riding: Many national parks and city parks offer horseback riding.  Further, rural and suburban areas throughout the country have horse farms.  Horseback riding is great if you love animals and want to feel connected to nature:

  • Targets: Lower body strength.
  • Calorie Burn: 236 calories per hour for general riding or 472 calories for racing.

5. Hiking: Hiking is absolutely beautiful during the fall because of the beautiful foliage you can see (obviously this is true in more temperate climates).

  • Targets: Lower body strength (and upper if you carry a backpack) and cardio.
  • Calorie Burn: 354 calories per hour.

6. Golf: Golf is a game that can be enjoyed all the way through the fall.  Don't rent the golf-cart, however, as walking will give you a lower body workout and some cardio.

  • Targets: Upper and lower body strength.
  • Calorie Burn: 207 calories per hour.

And, although these don't necessarily burn as many calories, don't underestimate the power of apple picking and pumpkin picking...not to mention pumpkin carving!  So, don't let the change of season slow you down!  Keep moving and enjoy!


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Comments 1-10 of 42
  • Lauren's Avatar
    Posted by Lauren Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:50am PDT

    I am a riding instructor and have been riding all my life, Horseback riding if done properly really works the entire body.

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  • Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance's Avatar
    Posted by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:24am PDT

    Thanks Lauren!

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  • __A_YAHOO_USER__'s Avatar
    Posted by __A_YAHOO_USER__ Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:32am PDT

    I wish....we skipped fall and went right into Winter here in NY

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  • Mauna's Avatar
    Posted by Mauna Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:01pm PDT

    My favorite activities to burn calories: Long distant cycling, hiking, burning calories with the strength training, confidence building,stamina/endurance,and skill challenge -Mountain Biking, to in between of rest and recoop...yoga/past dance stretch exercises.

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  • real hoopsta's Avatar
    Posted by real hoopsta Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:31am PDT

    This article was a waste............

    Report Abuse
  • HawkeyeGirl's Avatar
    Posted by HawkeyeGirl Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:53am PDT

    I really, really hate summer. I'm definitely a northern girl from Iowa/Minnesota/Wisconsin stuck in the deep south (Cincinnati, Ohio-yes, I know real southerners will laugh at that, but it's stinking hot here and I don't know how anyone in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi survive the hot months) and I love, LOVE when autumn comes around. I am always motivated to get outside and move when it gets nice and cool. There are jogging paths built into the woods that skirt the city, and it completely restores me on the weekends to go and run amongst trees in firey shades of red, orange and yellow that are dripping leaves all over me. I don't even mind if it's cloudy and raining, the contrast of the tree colors just seems more brilliant against a grey sky. I even like raking leaves!

    LOL, now I'm all jazzed up to go outside and run and I'm stuck at work. Oh well, the weekend is near.

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  • Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance's Avatar
    Posted by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:26am PDT

    Halle, I hear you! WHere oh where did fall go? (I'm in Boston)

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  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:22am PDT

    Mmm... I am loving the mid 70's range highes that we are having right now... I think sometime this weekend (perhaps Sunday) I am going to go explore one of our many parks... I think it's really sad that Men's Health magazine named my city the unhealthiest (Arlington, Tx)... :( Because we have SO many parks.. and big ones too.. the one closest to me in the northern part of the city has over 4 miles of trails to walk/jog/run/hike on (and I don't know how many for biking)... and the City has Rec Centers comparible to YMCA's all over the city... We even have a Lake (and many others around our city... if you consider a reservior a lake that is) and a river to go boating on...

    Anyway... I am going to explore some of our parks now that it's much cooler... I like it better in West Texas where the heat is dry so it feels cooler.... I like the heat, hate the humidity.

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  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:32am PDT

    I take that back... it has over 8 miles of paved trail (they must have created more since I last looked)...

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  • ExerciseTV's Avatar
    Posted by ExerciseTV Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:23am PDT

    Such good ideas! Usually when it gets cooler I take to working out indoors with ExerciseTV. If it's raining and cold I have no excuse, my pilates, yoga and cardio are all ready to go on my On Demand and it's all free because it comes with almost every cable provider!

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