I love this time of year, but honestly, the idea of bathing suit season quickly approaching is rather frightening. If you are like me and are looking to tone a few problem areas, here are a few fun activities for you:
Plan a weekly walk for rainy days. Spring brings with it plenty of rain, so plan one trip a week to a local landmark or mall. We have a new water treatment plant by us. I know it doesn’t sound glamorous, but it is a huge hit with my 5-year-old son. It is never busy, and it keeps me from spending money at the mall. One day a week after school, we hit the water treatment plant and walk for at least 45 minutes.
Buy a calorie counter or pedometer. My son loves to play tag and it is amazing how many calories you can burn chasing your children. If you are competitive, tracking the amount of steps you take or the amount of calories you burn can become a challenge. I try to see how many more calories I can burn than our previous game. Whether it is going for a hike, playing a quick game of soccer, or throwing the Frisbee, spring is the perfect time to take advantage of the great outdoors.
Hit an indoor pool or water park. I know, I know, we were just bemoaning the dreaded swimsuit. However, if you are brave, and have some sunless tanning spray, it really isn’t that bad. We have gone twice in the last month as a family and the kids love it. After we play for a while, my husband watches the kids and I do a few laps.
Do some work in the yard with the kids. Who doesn’t love to dig in the dirt? This weekend I am planning to have my son help me with the planting of the flowers. He is so excited to help choose the colors and tell me where to put them. He also loves to help pull weeds. (I promise he really is relatively normal.) Children love to feel like they are contributing and you can burn some extra calories at the same time.
Add an early morning or late night power tone. I am a night owl and tend to get the munchies while I am watching Dancing with the Stars or another favorite program in the evening. Now, I use that time to do squats and crunches. Add as little as 15 minutes one time per day, and you will see results quickly.
Enjoy the beautiful weather and get out there and burn those calories!
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