The leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter, the temperature has finally dropped and we all have an itch to get outside and enjoy it!  Well we don’t have to rely strictly on the gym to burn calories this time of year.  There are a lot of fun, festive ways to burn those calories while having fun-making exercise not even seem like we’re exercising at all!  Below are a few ways to sneak in a little extra ‘burn’ this weekend while having fun.  After all, it is the weekend and time to unwind and enjoy yourself!

* Although not everyone is a huge football fan, playing a game of touch football can really singe those calories–to the tune of approximately 574 calories per hour.
* Raking can be a fun or dreaded activity in the fall, but if you concentrate on the calories your burning, it may not seem so bad. You can burn approximately 290 calories in an hour of raking, but if you run and jump into the pile and rake it back up, you will burn even more. Play can be good for you physically and emotionally!
* Another way to enjoy the colors of the changing leaves is to take a hike, which burns approximately 400 calories per hour.
* It is estimated that camping can burn 165 calories per hour. Camping includes intense activities like putting up a tent, as well as less rigorous activities like sitting around the campfire.
* Visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards is the perfect autumn day activity. An hour of picking apples can burn approximately 200 calories. Plus, think of all the yummy, healthy snacks you have to take home with you!
* As long as you’re not eating all of the Halloween candy, trick or treating is estimated to burn 250 calories per hour.
* In Indiana, the Hilly Hundred is offered every year (although it has already passed, it’s never too early to plan for next year!)- a two day bike ride through the hills of Brown County for a total of 100 miles. Just an hour of biking 14-16 miles per hour can burn approximately 696 calories per hour. I’ve ridden some of those hills, and I am sure they burn more!

These calorie estimates are based on an adult between 145 and 160 pounds.

Article source:  www.ibtimes.com