5 Best Outdoor Activities for the Weekend to Get in Shape

Getting in shape can be hard. Societal pressure to stay fit, with magazines and movies constantly feeding us with images of well-toned physiques that feel completely unattainable, doesn’t make things any easier, either.

As we constantly struggle against time to keep up with our careers and our families, it may sometimes feel completely impossible to get in shape.

We’re here to tell you that you shouldn’t give up. There are plenty of ways and benefits for getting into shape, even disregarding aesthetics, including you'll feel more confident, more energized and your body and mind will be strong and healthy.

It’s definitely a good idea to take some time out of your week to work out.

And if you’re having trouble finding time for working out during the busy weekdays, there’s plenty of fun outdoor games and activities you can do over the slower weekends that will get you in shape in no time at all, away from your typical workout on the treadmill.

Best Outdoor Workout Activities to Help You Get in Shape

As long as you participate in these fun outdoor games and workout activities regularly, you will defineltely not only get into shape, but also stay in shape.

Here are the top five activities to embrace to stay in shape, and why they are great options:

1. Tennis

If you’ve got a court available, as well as a racket with a good grip (and let’s not forget a training partner), tennis might just be the best choice for you if you’re looking for a total-body workout.

A solid tennis game incorporates your legs, arms, as well as your core muscles. You’ll also get a good amount of cardio out of it, while the repetitive movements, if lightweight, will do wonder for your arms when it comes to toning.

You don’t even have to be good at tennis to see some results - just go out there and have fun!

2. Basketball

Basketball involves a lot of jumping, running, starting and stopping, which will definitely give you a good workout.

Aside from jogging, it might be the best cardio session you could hope for. Just like with tennis, it doesn’t matter how good you are at it - what matters is that you get a move on.

Since basketball requires so much more motion than other similar sports, you’ll notice your agility and stamina getting a nice boost after a couple of weeks of regular playing.

3. Swimming

Swimming is probably one of the easiest sport out of the bunch to get into. This is all due to the fact that it’s a low-impact activity, but at the same time offers probably the most comprehensive workout out there.

Since the water makes you lighter, you can more easily perform motions that would normally be too difficult, which goes a long way in toning your muscles - and you’ll tone a lot of them, as you’re basically engaging your entire body.

The breathing techniques that are pretty much necessary for swimming correctly will also be a boon for your cardiovascular endurance. However, it’s important to keep in mind that swimming has a slightly higher entry level than most workouts.

If you want to stay safe, you’ll need to learn a few basic swimming techniques first. After all, you’re risking a bit more than a few broken bones if you go out into the water without knowing how to swim.

4. Golf

Golf may seem like an incredibly lazy activity, but you’d be surprised with how much you stand to gain by taking things as slowly as most golfers do. First of all, you’ll be doing a lot of walking between holes, which makes for an incredibly effective if low-impact physical activity.

The act of swinging itself is also quite physically engaging, involving your arms, legs, and core. If you learn the right techniques and manage to get the best golf grips from the beginning, you should enjoy yourself thoroughly and get a good workout while at it.

5. Cycling

Finally, cycling is likely one of the easiest activities to get into. It’s low-impact, but you can easily ride long distances this way, which makes for an incredibly easy means of fat burning.

Go for a ride around town or to a nearby forest every weekend and you’re guaranteed to see results quite soon.

It’s a fun and easy activity that can help you relax after a hard week at work, while providing you with gains with little effort.

Conclusion

There you have it! Those are some awesome outdoor activities you’ll love that come with many benefits for your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Make time for them on the weekends and you’ll see great results.