Keen to avoid the treadmill but still stay fit? We’re so there.
During winter you told yourself that you’d get fit and toned in time for summer, and then you realised it was too cold to move further than necessary (i.e. pausing your Netflix marathon and leaving your blanket fortress to grab more snacks). And now with the sunny season here, it’s difficult to know which option is more bearable – to waste the sun in the gym trying to get fit or wear a bikini in public. The struggle is so real. So we came up with a challenge: stay out of the gym. Yep, these summer activities allow you to stay toned, while still having – dare we say it – heaps of fun.
INSTEAD OF: Squats
TRY: Rollerblading
Toned backsides have been the new black ever since Beyoncé booty-bounced her way into our lives way back when and Kim Kardashian broke the internet. Squats may help us achieve a butt that Sir Mix-a-Lot would be proud of, but they can be repetitive. Rollerblading is a summer-friendly, no-gym-required alternative that targets, tones and tightens your butt, as well as your back and inner-thighs. If that wasn’t enough, blading is seriously fun.
INSTEAD OF: The treadmill
TRY: Fun runs
We get it – usually the words “fun” and “run” aren’t something you’d put into a sentence together, however, running increases strength, tone and endurance. Instead of the treadmill, get moving by participating in events like The Color Run. You’ve seen it on Insta – at every kilometre of the 5km dash, participants are doused with coloured powder. Who knew that simply adding colour would make running so much fun?
INSTEAD OF: Star-climbing
TRY: Hiking
The stepper is the go-to when you want to build muscle in your legs or glutes. Similarly, hiking is great exercise that strengthens and improves cardiorespiratory fitness (including your heart, lungs and blood vessels). You can take it to the next level by hiking – it’s good for your physical health, and gives you plenty of fresh air and sunshine too. Plus, you’ll make memories you can dream about in winter.
INSTEAD OF: Circuit training
TRY: R.O.C Race
The stepper is the go-to when you want to build muscle in your legs or glutes. Similarly, hiking is great exercise that strengthens and improves cardiorespiratory fitness (including your heart, lungs and blood vessels). You can take it to the next level by hiking – it’s good for your physical health, and gives you plenty of fresh air and sunshine too. Plus, you’ll make memories you can dream about in winter.
INSTEAD OF: Weights
TRY: Rock-climbing
Despite the stigma surrounding women lifting weights, they won’t make you bulky. There are actually so many benefits from using them, such as increasing your body’s strength and toning up. Likewise, rock-climbing and abseiling are stereotyped to be for adrenaline junkies, but these activities have similar pros, which include improving your strength, agility and not to mention your confidence as you literally scale mountains (or walls).
INSTEAD OF: Yoga
TRY: Stand-up paddleboarding
For yoga lovers and wannabe surfers, stand-up paddleboarding is the perfect summer combination. Although much easier than surfing (and a little wetter than yoga), stand-up paddleboarding is a seriously tough exercise that works out your upper-body and core strength. It also requires balance that will help you perfect your Half Moon pose in time to impress your instructor once the weather cools down. Namaste!
