Pick up a hobby and burn that fat

Ever thought of picking up a hobby and using it towards your keep-fit regimen? Well if you are the outgoing sporty type and would like to have fun getting into shape, here are some games that will help in that complete body toning as well as spruce some fun in your life. Skate, skate, skate away When it comes to blasting fat and calories, skating is at the front line. If you know nothing about skating, worry not, just get into Nairobi’s CBD on Sundays at the sunken car park near Aga Khan Walk and join in the fun. It takes about a month for a beginner to catch on and before you know it, you will have toned your thigh and butt muscles thanks to the side-to-side movement. Your core also gets involved in a big way to keep you balanced. What’s more, you get all these benefits without putting too much stress on your knees and other joints. Skate at a strong, steady pace. (Don’t forget your helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads.) Boost the burn: Alternate one minute of hard skating with one minute of medium-paced strokes. Hula hooping Get this, Beyoncé hoops to keep her body looking as beautiful as it does. So now that the secret is out, do it yourself, grab an adult-sized hoop (they’re larger and heavier than kids’ hoops, which makes them easier to spin). You will know you have the right size if it reaches your chest when you stand it up in front of you. The trick with the hula-hoop is to simply keep it going around your waist. To start, stand with one foot in front of the other and shift your weight back and forth (versus around in a circle). And don’t worry if you’re less than perfect at first because you will still shed off major calories, plus get better every time you spin. Boost the burn: Make it a daily routine, something you must do for 30 minutes after work and if you have children, have them join in the fun and they will ensure you keep to your daily routine, because we know how pesky they can be when a routine is missed. Tennis If you are thinking that getting a partner or trekking all the way to a court to break a super sweat with racket in hand is almost impossible for you, then simply find a flat area near a wall that you can hit the ball against. Alternate forehand and backhand shots—then see how many you can do in a row without dropping the ball. Stand 10 to 15 metres away, which will force you to hit harder. Even practising your serve will get your body in burn mode, because you’ll have to run and bend to pick up your missed balls. Boost the burn: Try to hit the ball consistently for 50 or 100 strokes. Because having a goal always makes one strive to reach it. Dancing This may not be the biggest “calorie-burner” in the bunch, but it’s still an excellent, and fun, metabolism booster. If in doubt have a look at Kelly Osbourne, who jump-started her amazing 42-pound loss on Dancing with the Stars. The key is to keep the tempo high, choose songs with fast rhythms like South African, Latin or Bollywood, and don’t rest between songs. Begin with an upbeat inspirational song (think “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga), then move on to songs with increasingly faster tempos. Slow the beat toward the end to cool down. Boost the burn: Use your arms! Raise them in the air and move them to the beat.