Great Alternative Summer Workouts

[caption id="attachment_2166" align="alignleft" width="382" caption="Alternative Summer Workouts"][/caption]

Getting sick of the gym? Wish you could be exercising outside during the great summer days? If you're looking for alternative summer workouts, take a look at some of these. They're a great way to get fit, healthy and enjoy the outdoors.

Hiking
For your: legs
Summer weekends were made for hiking, so grab your gear and make to the nearest trail. Hiking is a great way to work your lower body muscles like calves, bottom, and thighs. Not only that, hiking also helps strengthen the muscles attached to your hips and give them a good stretch — the perfect antidote to sitting in a chair all day long.
Swimming
For your: entire body
Swimming is known for giving you a great all-over body workout, and with good reason — your arms and legs are both working to propel you forward (making swimming a great cardio exercise as well). The harder you push yourself the more muscle groups you'll affect; while you'll be using primarily your biceps, triceps, and abs while you swim, kicks and other leg work bring help to tone your bottom and your quads.

Cycling
For your: legs
Going on a long bike ride around town works many of the same lower-body muscles as hiking — calves, hamstrings, and quads get a good work out whether you're climbing up a hilly road or flying down the open streets.

Kayaking
For your: arms and back
To me, kayaking is one of those sports that is the ultimate Summer fitness: floating in the water while burning calories and enjoying the weather and the sun. Kayaking gives your upper body muscles a serious workout as you paddle across the water, and while you won't be using your lower-body muscles as much, sitting in the kayak will give your hamstrings a good stretch.