This weekend, the Lion King remake hit theaters and we couldn’t help but feel like a kid again. Remember back in the day, when you could spend hours at the local roller skating rink without a care in the world? Or maybe after school, you immediately dropped your backpack and grabbed your bike to cruise the neighborhood. Revisiting our favorite childhood pastimes could be a major key in getting active again.

Today, it’s easy to feel the pressure of sweating out in the gym with squats, burpees, or endless hours on the treadmill in order to see results. There are also new studios popping up everywhere you look, and while some offer really cool experiences (hello AquaYoga), it can definitely hit the pocket in a major way. But, what if we told you that there is a way to get back to your childhood, have some good old fashion fun, and get in a great workout! Below check out some simple, but effective workouts, that will have you saying “Oh Yeah! I forgot I love to do that!”

Bowling

Bowling is a fun activity to do with your friends or on a date. It offers friendly competition to see who can get the most strikes and is usually a night full of a laughs. Bowling also helps promote muscle exercise of the lower body, as you are doing a lot of walking with the extra weight in your hands. Forget the dumbbells, did you know that the average bowling ball weights 6 - 16 lbs? An adult who weighs 200 pounds can burn up to 275 calories per hour while bowling, that’s equivalent jogging on a treadmill for 20 minutes or running a little over a mile. Add in that little shimmy after a strike and you got yourself a serious workout!

Roller Skating

Anyone who has been to the roller skate ring recently can attest to that it gives your legs a serious workout. Skating works most muscle groups including glutes, quads, calves and arms. A person can burn up to 482 calories an hour by rollerskating using the traditional skate with two sets of two wheels side-by-side, but 827 calories per hour by inline skating. Let's not forget about the core work involved to keep yourself balance. One of our favorite things is to watch the aunties, uncles, and grandparents, get out there with their smooth, cross-leg, backwards, dancing style of skating. If we can be like them when we grow up, sign us up now!

Bike Ride

There is something very therapeutic about riding a bike along the beach or in a park. It’s easier on the knee joints, and it’s a great way to get around on a nice summer day (minus the current heat wave). Did you know, a 200-lb. person will burn 120 calories with a leisurely bike ride, but traveling between 12 and 14 mph will burn 264 calories in 20 minutes? A 240-lb. person will burn 144 calories in 20 minutes, while more vigorous biking will burn 317 calories.

Take it to the playground

Shooting Hoops

When we ask a lot of our guy friends what they do to workout, the overwhelming response is “oh I just shoot hoops every morning".” For the athletically inclined playing basketball is a great way to get in that cardio. With all the running, guarding, and shooting, this sport uses a lot of muscles in the body. In fact, a 150-pound person can burn about 204 calories in 30 minutes playing basketball but not in a formal game, versus 153 calories shooting hoops and 272 playing a game.

Jumping Rope

Jumping Rope is one of our favorite cardio workouts. You can burn up to 15 to 20 calories per minute. The average person could burn 200 to 300 calories in a simple 15 minute jump rope workout! Let that marinate. Not just for boxers or kids, rope jumping (skipping) can burn 25% more calories per minute than running. Let’s not forget about the cultural phenomenon that is double dutch. Did you know that there is a group based in Atlanta, that hosts double dutch aerobics? We didn’t either! If you are ever in the A check them out! https://www.doubledutchaerobics.com/

Hula Hoop

When is the last time you hula hooped? Did you know, the American Council on Exercise sponsored a study on the calorie expenditure of hula hoop as exercise. The study found that it burned 210 calories in a 30-minute workout, or 7 calories per minute.

Kickball

Kickball is so efficient and yet it’s so simple. You kick, catch, and run. According to the World Adult Kickball Association, the average 200 lb-guy will burn 455 calories during a typical 60-minute kickball game. So next time you are at the family picnic, be sure to bring the kickball. It’s fun for people of all ages. Why not throw in tag for good measure.

Throwback Ways to Get Fit (Enjoy Fitness Again?)