9 spring activities to burn 200 calories or more

Golf

Golf isn’t an intense workout, but if you walk the course you gain endurance and improve bone strength (games typically last about four-and-a-half hours for 18 holes). Plus, a 150-lb. person who plays 18 holes-and carries the clubs instead of using a cart-burns around 374 calories an hour.

Rollerblading

As the frigid air and snow disappear to make way for sunshine (and smoother surfaces) it’s the perfect time to lace up your inline skates. A super alternative to running because it’s easier on the joints, inline skating is a good aerobic workout that tones your lower body and builds leg strength. It’s also an excellent calorie burners: a 143-pound woman burns about 330 calories during one hour of continuous rollerblading.

Gardening

If you’ve ever laboured in a garden, no matter the size, you know the feeling of waking up the next morning so sore you feel like you’ve run a marathon. When working in the sunshine and fresh air, surrounded by lovely plants and flowers, it’s easy to forget you’re actually exercising. But bending, raking, digging and hauling bags of mulch requires flexibility and strength-so much so that you can burn up to 300 calories an hour gardening.

Skipping rope

Nothing says spring like putting some pep in your step. What better way to do that than by jumping rope?

Feel like a kid again with this playful activity that not only improves physical coordination and makes cardio fun, but can also burn more than 350 calories in 30 minutes.

Biking

As slush and snow disappear to make way for warm breezes and beautiful flowers, there’s no better way to appreciate the scenery than on a leisurely bike ride.

Not only can this low-impact sport decrease anxiety, it’s also easy on the joints and gets your lower body looking amazing.

“Cycling helps you develop fantastic lower body strength: your quadriceps, hamstrings and buttocks,” says Jenny Brown, a fitness trainer and women’s cycling coach at Reactivated in St. Catharines, Ont. “You develop toned muscles without bulk.”

The best part? A 130-lb woman can burn 236 calories during an hour-long leisurely bike ride; a 155-lb woman can burn 281 calories.

Walking

If you’re the type of person who avoids winter walks because you hate the cold, spring is the perfect season to get in touch with nature again.

The secret to burning calories while you walk is all in how you pace yourself. It will take longer to burn 200 calories walking at a slow pace than by walking briskly or climbing stairs.

To burn 200 calories, walk at slow pace for an hour and 15 minutes.

Running

If you avoided running outdoors in the winter because of icy sidewalks and cool temperatures, spring is the perfect time to start a new running regimen.

Running is one of the most efficient ways to burn calories-about 255 calories for a 140 lb. woman on a 30-minute run; regular runners also have slimmer hips and waists.

Studies also show that running-which stimulates feel-good chemicals in the brain-reduces stress and anxiety, improves self-esteem, boosts mood and helps you sleep better.

Badminton

Playing badminton boasts loads of health benefits: It boosts your agility, balance and coordination, as well as strengthening your bones because it’s a weight-bearing activity. For a recreational badminton player, this all adds up to about 450 calories burned per hour (based on a 150-lb woman). An hour of walking burns just half that amount.

Yoga

A regular yoga practice will help improve your flexibility and core strength, in addition to enhancing your overall body awareness. Yoga will also introduce you to mediation-the act of focusing your mind.

In the spring, move your daily yoga session outdoors and benefit from the calming effects of nature as well.

Do one of the more vigorous forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga and you’ll burn about 250 calories in 30 minutes.

Related:
• The benefits of yoga
• How to get your bike ready for spring
• 8 fun ways to stay in shape