Let’s face it, some of us don’t like to hit the gym. Traditional exercises may seem more like a chore and a test of patience. Luckily, there are many non-traditional physical activities that can be both fun and rewarding. It’s important to choose an activity that will get your heart pumping and get your muscles burning. Exercises such as playing sports, dancing, bicycling, gardening, playing with your kids or walking your dog are just a few examples. Take gardening for instance: it involves carrying pots, walking and constant squatting. Gardening is a great way to burn calories without putting much thought into the physical aspect of it.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Get in those 150 or more minutes by doing something you enjoy. When you pick an activity you enjoy, you are more likely to get into the zone, and before you know it, you would have done something that benefits your mind, body and spirit.
Check out the chart below for a general comparison of how many calories you can potentially burn with non-traditional physical activities versus more traditional physical activity.
