Summer Exercise – The Family Way

No matter how dedicated you are, it’s nice to spend time with the family, especially in the summer when the weather can be so pleasant and kids are out of school. Going to the gym and family don’t generally mix too well though, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice either family time or training opportunities.

4. Walking

Walking may be a bit of a copout for most, and unless you’re very unfit, it would not usually provide much of a challenge, but going for a walk is still far better than sitting around at home, whiling away time on the couch. Find a local walking route, preferably one that includes some challenging terrain, and take the other half and the kids out for the day. Pack a picnic so you can stop for a healthy summer lunch too. Carry this in a back pack and burn off some extra calories – it’s almost a homemade weighted vest.

5. Circuits – Simplified

It’s not always easy to get other people as enthusiastic about exercising, and few people will want to join in your hardcore circuits. What you can do though, is make your circuits a little easier and more fun.

Kids love games and being active, so construct a mini circuit consisting of pushups, squats, lunges, burpees, situps and sprints. It might be a small step down from the intensity you’re used to, but it’ll get everyone involved and give you an extra weight loss workout to boot.

6. Sports

Who doesn’t love a good gab of tag football or five a side soccer?

Sports just don’t feel like exercise – they’re fun! Yet despite this, they’re awesome calorie burners. Even just half an hour of running around on the basketball court each evening can help in your weight loss quest. Hell, even playing with a frisbee can get quite active. If nothing else works out, go to the pool. It's the ultimate summer exercise.

7. Barbecue Forfeits

Here’s the ultimate test – try to get everyone at your barbecue or summer party partaking in exercise. Even the most training-averse, beer-drinking, hot dog-eating guys at your soiree will get a workout here.

This is like a far more sober drinking game – you set exercise forfeits for every time a person does something.

For example, for every burnt burger that the chief griller cooks, he or she has to do five pushups. If someone at the table spills their drink, it’s 10 squat thrusts. And should anyone in your party take a second serving of dessert, they have to run three laps of the garden. It may not burn off all those calories, but it’ll get them thinking about whether they really want that extra piece of pie.

If the very idea of that makes your guests angry, well, you might get a workout in as you run away from them! (That was a joke. Only do this with willing participants. Lazing about and eating more calories than you should is a perfectly good choice to make sometimes.)

Combine both “real” training with fun activities to carry on losing weight this summer.