It is very true that spending hours in the gym can sometimes feel really boring, especially if you prefer competitive or recreational sports over traditional cardio and resistance training workouts.
If you want to be fit and maintain your health, it is important to commit to a regular workout routine. You don't need to go to the gym to compete or improve your fitness. You can actually do all this and more by playing your favourite sports multiple days per week.
Mountain Biking and Road Cycling
Cycling, whether on roads or trails, is a great sport for improving your overall fitness. You will not only get an aerobic workout but also work your leg muscles, particularly the quads and glutes. You will also work the hamstrings, and will feel the burn after you've done a few miles. There are bikes for all ages and levels. Intermediate and advanced riders can choose to go on road or mountain bikes, while those who are just starting can take up paved trails. Calories burned per hour for a person weighing 154 lbs: you can lose up to 1200 calories per hour if you pedal faster.
Racquetball and Squash
You're likely to find squash courts and racquet ball courts filled with people of all fitness levels and ages. Because racquetball and squash can be a very competitive sport, or an easy game to play. These fast-paced activities can be made more accessible for beginners by slowing down the pace. Squash and racquetball will work your core, and target your back, shoulders and arms. It will help your endurance, speed, balance, and agility. The intensity of the activity will determine how many calories you burn. Calories burned per hour for a person weighing 154 lbs: expect to burn 600-800 calories while playing squash or racquetball. The intensity of the activity will determine how many calories you burn.
18 holes of Golf
You don't necessarily need a fancy set of clubs to play the course. But, what you do need is a supportive pair of shoes and possibly a cart, because, in order for golf to make the list of best sports for fitness, you need to walk all 18 holes while carrying or pushing your clubs. Calories burned per hour for a person weighing 154 lbs: one hour of golf will burn around 330 calories. You can easily burn 1000 calories if you play 18 holes for three hours.
Water sports: Canoeing, Rowing, Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Rowing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding offer a fun fitness solution for anyone who enjoys being outdoors. These sports all increase your heart rate, boost your muscular endurance and strength, and turn your body into a calorie-burning machine. Consider joining an outrigger crew if you are interested in competing in a rowing sport.
Calories burned per hour for a person weighing 154 lbs: expect to burn between 372 and 450 calories rowing, canoeing or kayaking. You will also need to consume 408 to 450 calories when paddleboarding or participating in an outrigger race.
