If you’re like me, traditional gym time is total agony. I want to stay in shape, but I want to have fun while I’m doing it. If you feel the same, forget the treadmill and sign yourself up for a team sport instead. You’ll get a fabulous workout, but you won’t have to suffer through an hour in Zumba if you hate it. Here are some sports that burn mega calories and help you stay in shape. Go team!
Basketball is my absolute favorite team sport! It’s so much fun to run back and forth and shoot nothing but net. While you’re playing, you are working the muscles all over your body, including your legs, butt, back, shoulders and arms. Trust me – you’ll feel it after just one practice. You also burn about 450 calories per hour.
More of an outdoor sport kind of girl? Soccer is a clear choice for you then. You’ve seen the muscular legs of pro soccer players and you can get them too with a bit of practice and a few games. Plus, the balance you need to kick the ball activates your core muscles and helps them stay sleek too. Soccer will also help you torch over 400 calories per hour.
If you want to play on a team of your own, or you just want one teammate, tennis can be a great sport for you. Your time on the court can easily get rid of nearly 500 calories per hour and you’ll be working the muscles all over your body. Playing singles generally burns more calories than doubles because you’ll have to cover the entire court, but you will miss out on the comradery of playing on a team.
If you want a toned and cut body that includes your legs, back, shoulders and arms, you may want to find a volleyball team to join. This game is really fun and creates a perfect workout for you. You can easily torch 400 calories when you’re playing a competitive game. Love beach volleyball? The benefits are pretty much the same so there’s no rule that says you have to stay in the gym to reap the rewards of volleyball.
While softball doesn’t require as much movement as other team sports, you can still burn a respectable 300 calories or so in an hour. Running to catch the ball and round the bases burns those calories, but it also helps you work your leg and arm muscles as you reach for the ball and hurl it to your teammates. It’s really easy to find women’s softball leagues so this one is a no-brainer.
It’s not as easy to find a competitive women’s football league, but if you can find one, it’s a great one to try. Football is really fun and it gives you the chance to burn about 500 calories in an hour. All that running and throwing helps, but the movements required to line up and all the practice required certainly helps too.
Yes, this is a thing. In fact, many colleges have added it to their sports lineup and city rec centers all over the place offer leagues for people who love the sport. Turns out that throwing the disc is great for you too because it requires you to use your arms, legs and core to get the Frisbee sailing. At the same time, you get rid of nearly 500 calories after just one hour of playing.
What’s your favorite team sport?