Skating. There’s nothing like cutting through wind on a pair of skates while laughing and chasing one of your siblings or friends. Be it inline or ice skating, the legwork is methodical, and the upper body rotational swings are akin to the movements of sprinters, who tend to have some of the best abs among all athletes. Skating is not only a high-intensity interval training activity, but it also unifies groups of friends. My childhood memories of the rink are still palpable. So when my two daughters say, “Dad, let’s go skating,” I immediately answer the call of duty.
Hitting the trails. Let the beauty of your nearest major park inspire a family hike that lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. Take in the earth tones of the environment, inhale the purifying aromas of Mother Nature and identify the insects and animals roaming the land. Turn your trailblazing hike into a family photo contest to see who captures the most unique earthling. Of course, everyone wins with fruit smoothies awaiting.
Bouncing at an indoor trampoline park. If your kids are hyperactive the best place to let them loose in an indoor trampoline park. In Columbia, Md., there’s a Sky Zone, which allows you to bounce the day away while also bouncing away impending fat stores. Again, this is high intensity movement that keeps the heart rate up, the blood flowing and the brain oxygenated. Afterwards, you never know what inventive idea your kid may come up with!
Taking advantage of sports complexes. Most counties have sports complexes or recreation centers with arrays of activities to partake in as a family. For example, our local center offers volleyball, basketball, indoor swimming, gymnastics, ping pong and tennis – not to mention a 200-meter indoor track. Any one of these options will burn calories in a hurry, especially if you choose to sprint around that track!