Forget the stuffy gym. Mother Nature has so much more to offer!
Hiking
Fit stars like Jessica Biel, Amanda Seyfried, and Beverly Hills Housewife Brandi Glanville have all professed hiking as one of their fave ways to stay in shape. While Glanville hikes the hills right near her Hollywood home, you can get the same body-benefits at a hiking trail near you. Getting out into the great outdoors, especially when the leaves are changing or when spring is in bloom, is great for the mind and body.
"Not only can a one-hour hike burn up to 400 calories, but it challenges the glutes (butt) and can tighten, firm, and lift the derriere. It also develops shapely legs and engages abs for balance," says New Jersey-based celebrity trainer and director of Sky Fitness, Jolene Matthews.
Running in the Sand
Madonna has been spotted frequently running on the beaches of various exotic locales. And for the super-in-shape singer, the benefits are obvious.
"Even just a few sprints in the sand strengthens your ankles, arches, and all other below-the-knee muscles more than running on harder or flat surfaces does," Matthews says.
It also burns 1.6 times more calories per mile, which makes this one of the best outdoor activities you can do this summer!
Horseback Riding
Hello inner-thigh workout! Discover your inner equestrian like Christie Brinkley and Kelly Killoren Bensimon—it's worth it.
"A horseback rider works inner-thigh muscles and core and postural muscles in order to stabilize yourself while on the horse," Matthew says. "It gives an effective workout to muscles you never even knew you had."
Skiing
We don’t have to explain the attraction of places like Aspen and Vail for Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, and Heidi Klum. Hitting the slopes is a favorite getaway for many celebs and their families, especially around the holidays. Perfect time to melt away post-holiday pounds, snowbunny-style.
Matthews, who works with Real Housewives Jacqueline Laurita, says, "Spending just four to five hours on the slopes can burn off almost an entire Thanksgiving meal. It's one of the most demanding sports for quads and core—amazing for building muscle endurance for the legs, making one more athletic across the board."
Golf
Mark Wahlberg, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Cameron Diaz are in-shape stars who hit the greens. Diaz even once referred to the sport as her “crack-cocaine.”
"Golf is a fun sport that demands a lot of concentration, yet many people find it soothing and calming," Matthews says. Golf is also one of the few workouts that uses the entire body, especially when walking the course with your clubs instead of using a caddie or cart.
Cycling
Swap four wheels for two, and you get cycling celebs Teri Hatcher, Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts, all who hit the streets on their bicycles.
But Matthews warns outdoor cycling is not for the faint of heart: "A 10-mile stretch can incorporate hills, climbs, jumps, and sprints, and burn 600 calories in 50-60 minutes."
By consistently engaging your muscles, cycling amps up your muscle endurance. Plus, cycling gets your heart rate up to burn body fat, making you leaner and fitter all over.
Tennis
If you're in a competitive spirit, a tennis match is a great way to have some fun and get in shape, like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ramona Singer, and Courteney Cox do.
“Tennis is another total-body workout that is both competitive and social,” Matthews says. In fact, the trainer says, it burns up to 600 calories per one-hour match. “With lots of lateral movements combined with running, swinging, and squatting, tennis is one of the best ways to get in shape and transform your body.”
