It seems as if most people hang out with their friends and significant others by either sitting down to enjoy food or a beverage other than water. I don’t have any statistical analysis to prove that statement but it’s just something that I observe. Most of you are probably either guilty of this or at least know someone who does this very frequently. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that breaking bread with someone at the dinner table has been a special social activity for thousands of years. It’s just not something that you have to do every time you hang out with a friend. To give you some ideas, here are 5 healthy alternatives to common social activities.
1 – Play A Round Of Tennis After Work
Depending on where you live there can be open public tennis courts in almost any park that you walk into. After work, instead of going straight to happy hour, get one of your office buddies and head to the nearest park for a few rounds of singles.
Depending on the intensity of the match, the amount of calories burned can range from 550 to over 700 in one hour. At happy hour your probably going to add 300 or more calories to your diet instead. Tennis is a perfect sport for hanging out with a couple friends because you can play with up to four people, and literally any skill level will manage just fine.
2 – Sand Volleyball At A Barbecue
While you’re at a barbecue, instead of hovering around the grill and the coolers, organize a few games of sand volleyball. Many parks have permanent volleyball nets set up, or you can get a portable net for as little as $40.
Volleyball is a great activity for big get togethers because so many people can play. As many as 6 people can play on each team. That’s a lot of fun to go around. Moving around in the sand is much harder than solid ground so that’s more calories that you will burn if the game gets intense.
3 – Join An Afternoon Adult League Instead Of Grabbing Lunch
Many recreation centers offer lunchtime basketball or soccer leagues or at least an open court where people can play games. If you can’t find an official league then get as many willing friends as possible and start a mini tournament. You can easily play 3 versus 3 basketball or soccer and have a great time.
Lunch breaks at work are a perfect time to get active because it deters you from going to a restaurant and eating a huge meal with more calories than you really need. When you are done playing in your league take a small snack with you to work for a small lunchtime meal.
4 – Walk Or Jog Instead Of Sitting Down For Coffee
Sitting down for a cup of coffee with your best friend can easily provide you with an extra 150 unnecessary calories if you order something fancy. How about taking that fancy mocha-choca-frappe-late for a nice long walk instead of sitting down.
If your not great with multi-tasking and absolutely refuse to walk while you enjoy your beverage, then when you’re done go for a jog. Bring some athletic attire along with you. When you feel that caffeine kick, I’m sure you will be up for it.
5 – Go For A Bike Ride Instead Of A Dinner Date
Next time you plan a date with your significant other, hop on two nice bikes instead of making dinner reservations. Biking together is really fun and a whole lot more creative. Not to mention the calorie expenditure. An hour long bike ride can burn 450-700 calories with moderate effort. Even if you don’t have bikes, the nearest bike store will surely rent a pair to you for the same price as a fancy dinner.
Instead of the same old social get togethers that you always do with your friends, be a little creative. Use these 5 healthy alternatives to common social activities to burn some calories and spice up your social life. Share this article with your friends on facebook and get them to play some sports with you on your lunch break. If you are looking to get your family involved then check out, 7 Fun Ways To Get Your Whole Family Active.
About Adam Pegg
