Ways to kill calories and still stay cool

Summer is in full swing, and if you're like Daisy and I are, the idea of exercising in this heat is less than pleasant. We still manage to get ourselves to the gym, regardless, but not everyone is as dedicated to going to the gym as we are, whatever the temperature.

So, here are some ways that you can get some sun and fresh air, burn some calories, and still keep your cool (or at least most of it):

• Hit the water park or just the neighborhood pool: Swimming, navigating water slides at Sandcastle, and just general bouncing around in the pool present great opportunities to burn calories, while also allowing you to get the fresh air and sun you crave, and helping you to stay cool, too. Just save the Lazy River for after you've tired yourself out doing other things.
• Hit the amusement park: Whether you're at Kennywood for four hours or from open-to-close, going to the amusement park is a sneaky and very entertaining way to get some calorie burn into your day. For one thing, you spend a lot of time standing in line, and for another, you also spend a good portion of your day walking from one side of the park to the other. Throw in some Skeeball, and you'll be set. Just remember that although the amusement park food stands offer a variety of tasty delights, try not put all of the calories you just burnt off back on by eating ALL of those tasty options. An order of Potato Patch fries with just cheese is over 500 calories and 40 grams of fat, and a corn dog isn't much better, so a little bit can go a long way.
• Go to an outdoor festival: Whatever your taste, there's an outdoor festival for you this summer. Whether you crave music, beer, or arts and crafts, going to an outdoor festival ranks up there with going to Kennywood, as long as you spend much of your time circulating among the booths and not parked in a lawn chair. And, like with Kennywood, the food and drink at such festivals can tank any calorie burn gains you've made, easily, so enjoy in moderation.

I hope this list has given you some ideas on how you can enjoy the outdoors, and get in your daily requirements of fresh air and sun.

No matter what you choose to do outside this summer, remember to wear a good waterproof sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher. Anything less just won't hold up against the intense rays, and those rays get even more intense when they bounce off of water.

Penn