It’s strange, but for some reason spending 45 minutes on the elliptical feels unnatural when the weather starts warming up. It’s like lying in a tanning bed when it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside.

Clearly, I’ve already grown tired of my normal workout routine for the year.

The solution? Exploring outdoor activities that will provide me with a sense of adventure as I tone up. Now you may be wondering, “Hmm, is there really anything fun out there that will burn lots of calories?” I felt the same. But the reality is, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Check out these options below.

Kayaking
Benefits: Tones arms, chest, back and stomach. The paddle movement works every muscle in the upper body.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 calories per hour; this stat depends on your weight — the more you weigh the more calories you burn.

Rock Climbing
Benefits: Improves strength and endurance in calves, shoulders and core, as well as flexibility in the hips and hamstrings. Coordination, balance and mental focus will also be sharpened. Many climbers report a heightened sense of self-confidence and independence.
Calorie Burn: 600-700 calories per hour!!
** Beginners should look for an indoor climbing facility in their area. This is the best way to learn the ropes.

Surfing
Benefits: Improves endurance, balance (incredibly) and challenges all muscles groups. Surf stroke is also a great stress reducer and is an intense upper body work out.
Calorie Burn: 400 per 2 hour period. Most surfers spend half the day surfing, so that can burn up to 1200 calories!!!

Swimming
Benefits: Builds endurance, muscles strength and cardiovascular fitness. It can also be a very meditative exercise.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 per hour at a moderate pace.

Running on the Beach
Benefits: Increases endurance, stamina and builds muscle; the right way to run on the beach is to a) stay off the soft sand, run close to the tide, b) run at low tide which gives you a much firmer surface to run, and c) split the distance or time of your run in half so that both feet get equal time on a not-so-level running surface. (i.e. if you’re running for 30 minutes, turn around and go in the other direction at the 15 minute mark.)
Calorie Burn: 500-600 calories per half hour (seriously!!!). Because sand provides a greater resistance, you body has to work almost twice as hard to move against the surface.

Volleyball
Benefits: Increases agility, hand-eye coordination, strength … and social skills! There is nothing more fun/hilarious than getting a bunch of buds together for a match on the beach or sand pit.
Calorie Burn: 200-250 calories per hour (clearly not as great a workout as the others!)

So get out there and take advantage of the long, warm, sunny days coming your way. You’ll really have the chance to see what your body is capable of and, who knows, maybe you’ll find a true passion (or extremely hot guy) along the way.

But more than summer dresses, sandals and sun tans, with summer comes great opportunities for more bonding time, and more creative bonding time, with the BF.

Looking for something new to do with the boyf?  Here you are my favorite summer time date ideas!

1. Kayaking – I love, love, LOVE kayaking. I love being in the water, but have never been a really strong swimmer so this works out really well for me. You can even take the cuteness up a level and go canoeing. He can row while you read poetry from under your parasol. (Sorry, this is what I think of when I hear of a couple in a canoe). But kayaking really is a cheap activity that’s way more fun to do with a partner than alone.

2. Bike rides – I’m particularly excited about this one because Matt and I just bought bikes and went for our first bike ride last night! You can ride to yogurt shops or snow cone stands or whatever you want for a treat, then pedal your way back home. Or go on a fun adventure off the beaten path (literally).

3. Movies – For those who can’t stand the summer heat, you can always retreat to the dark (aka, good make out lighting) and air conditioned movie theaters. Or even better, hop in the car and head to a drive-in. While “dinner and a movie” may not be so original, it sure as heck will be entertaining with all of the summer movies that come out every year. I know I can’t wait to go see Iron Man 2.

4. Frisbee Golf – This may just be a whole Austin liberal thing, but this place is littered with frisbee-golfers. There is good reason for this, however, because frisbee golf is so much fun! It’s as laid back as regular golf, but it isn’t as mind numbingly boring. If your boyfriend is a regular golf fan, talk him into going to a frisbee golf course, that way you both can have fun.

5. Firefly catching - When I was little, I used to live in Illinois where fireflies were everywhere at dusk during the summer. But then I moved to west Texas where fireflies don’t exist. You have no idea how excited I was when I learned that there are lightening bugs in Austin. Seriously people, get your boyfriend, get a jar, and get to catching! It’s such a fun activity and it will totally make you feel like a kid.

6. Wave Pool - Once you get over the long lines (littered with small children), wave pools/water parks are the perfect summer date. You can grab a tube and lounge in the lazy river, dunk each other in the wave pool, or race each other to the bottom of the water slides. Plus, there’s the whole “rubbing sunscreen on one another” factor, which is always fun.

Well ladies, that’s what I’m looking forward to this summer. What about you?

It’s strange, but for some reason spending 45 minutes on the elliptical feels unnatural this time of year. It’s like lying in a tanning bed when you it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside.

Clearly I’ve slightly, OK totally, abandoned my usual workout routine.

The solution? Exploring outdoor activities that will provide me with a sense of adventure as I tone up. Now you may be wondering, “Hmm, is there really anything fun out there that will burn lots of calories?” I felt the same. But the reality is, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Check out these options below. 

Kayaking
Benefits: Tones arms, chest, back and stomach. The paddle movement works every muscle in the upper body.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 calories per hour; this stat depends on your weight — the more you weigh the more calories you burn.

Rock Climbing
Benefits: Improves strength and endurance in calves, shoulders and core, as well as flexibility in the hips and hamstrings. Coordination, balance and mental focus will also be sharpened. Many climbers report a heightened sense of self-confidence and independence.
Calorie Burn: 600-700 calories per hour!!
** Beginners should look for an indoor climbing facility in their area. This is the best way to learn the ropes.

Surfing
Benefits: Improves endurance, balance (incredibly) and challenges all muscles groups. Surf stroke is also a great stress reducer and is an intense upper body work out.
Calorie Burn: 400 per 2 hour period. Most surfers spend half the day surfing, so that can burn up to 1200 calories!!!

Swimming
Benefits: Builds endurance, muscles strength and cardiovascular fitness. It can also be a very meditative exercise.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 per hour at a moderate pace.

Running on the Beach
Benefits: Increases endurance, stamina and builds muscle; the right way to run on the beach is to a) stay off the soft sand, run close to the tide, b) run at low tide which gives you a much firmer surface to run, and c) split the distance or time of your run in half so that both feet get equal time on a not-so-level running surface. (i.e. if you’re running for 30 minutes, turn around and go in the other direction at the 15 minute mark.)
Calorie Burn: 500-600 calories per half hour (seriously!!!). Because sand provides a greater resistance, you body has to work almost twice as hard to move against the surface.

Volleyball
Benefits: Increases agility, hand-eye coordination, strength … and social skills! There is nothing more fun/hilarious than getting a bunch of buds together for a match on the beach or sand pit.
Calorie Burn: 200-250 calories per hour (clearly not as great a workout as the others!)

So get out there and take advantage of the long, warm, sunny days. You’ll really have the chance to see what your body is capable of, and who knows, maybe you’ll find a true passion (or extremely hot guy) along the way.