Ask most kids what their favorite subject is, and they’ll probably say recess. Just because you’re a grown up, doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Recess-inspired workouts aren’t only a great way to reinvigorate a fitness routine, they’re also serious calorie burners. Just 30 minutes of these recess-style workouts burn 280–460 calories.* So treat yourself to some back-to-school workout gear, channel your inner kid and hit the playground, field or even the gym. Because who says a workout has to feel like work?
READ MORE > 7 EXERCISES FOR A FULL-BODY PLAYGROUND WORKOUT
*Calorie burn based on a 150-pound, 30-year-old woman.
Jump Rope: Jumping rope is killer cardio and it tones your calves and quads — plus, plyometrics are known to torch calories. Grab a rope and challenge yourself to see how long you can continuously jump. Feeling advanced? Switch it up with jumping jack or crisscross hops.
Hit the Playground: A local park or school can be a fantastic (and free) alternative to the gym. Hit the monkey bars for pullup practice or hang by your knees for some ab-chiseling, upside-down hanging crunches; race to the top of the slide for some mountain-climber worthy cardio; work your quads with a swing session or grab a bench for incline pushups and triceps dips.
TRX: You probably never realized the excellent upper-body workout you got from hanging on the bars at recess. As an adult, working your shoulders, biceps, triceps and delts doesn’t have to be a drag. Try a TRX class, which channels the same upper-body suspension you’d get from monkeying around. Consider this your calorie-burning, grown-up jungle gym.