Is Kayaking Good for Weight Loss? Best Weight Loss Activities

Many people find it hard to get into a habit that helps their body burn fat. The idea of burning fat itself sounds intimidating, with many people feeling overwhelmed with the thought of exerting effort on something new that they don’t usually enjoy. However, rather than surfing the web, endlessly scrolling for weight-loss tips, a person needs to get moving to explore which practice will best work for them.

There are many ways of losing weight, with some being easier than others.

In an era filled with technological and medical advancements, many methods related to losing weight have started to emerge. Although a vast number rely on these new ways, claiming they’re quick and easy, others prefer to do so naturally – through activities.

Some activities are fun and can help burn fat, so most people favor these. One such activity is kayaking.
Let us look into this sport and see some benefits for your health, including its reliability in losing weight.

Is Kayaking Good for Weight Loss?

Kayaking is one of the best and most fun ways of losing weight without changing your lifestyle much. You can burn about 400 calories by kayaking for an hour. If you plan to do this activity to lose weight, doing so for three hours will help you burn around 1,200 calories. The best part is that it will also help build muscles and avoid losing muscles with the weight loss.

Health Benefits of Kayaking

Kayaking is a sport prevalent in the U.S. and most parts of the world. Like most sports, you can use it to lose weight and stay in shape.

Kayaking is a versatile exercise, and you can make it into whatever you need it to be, depending on what works best for you.

Kayaking can work for everyone regardless of their age. For example, seniors and kids can kayak under supervision and benefit from the experience. You can paddle for several miles or go with a slow current to enjoy a relaxing cruise on a river.

If you want a fun way to lose weight, kayaking might be what you need. Let us get into the details and see how this activity will help you achieve your fitness goals.

It Works Core and Arm Muscles

Kayaking means you have to paddle to move, and you need your arms and core to do this.

Paddling requires you to use your pectoral and back muscles. It allows you to build muscles and burn fat, so you don’t lose body muscle mass. Depending on how much work you want to put in, you can control its intensity by going upstream, downstream, or in still water.

It Offers an Excellent De-stressing Platform

If you are looking for an enjoyable option for fitness, kayaking will be a good choice. If you live close to an open river, you can go out and have a peaceful time to relax and decompress stress.

It offers a chance to sit on your own and reflect, which helps you process stress. Stress can cause weight gain, so dealing with it has the opposite effect. You will digest your food better, and you will be generally feel better, in terms of mental health because of the kayaking experience.

Kayaking also allows you to explore your surroundings, putting your brain to work. After kayaking, you will likely be more productive and have an easier time concentrating on other tasks.

It Works and is Fun

Most people find it hard to go to the gym because of how hard it is, and most of the time, it is not fun. Most people don’t like going to the gym, and they don’t enjoy the sessions since they are hard.

Kayaking is not challenging, and you will enjoy every second of it. The activity will make you forget about the pain of paddling, and you will lose fat without even thinking about it. The fun makes it a sustainable option that you can be enjoyed for years.

It Increases Your Aerobic Capacity

When kayaking, you will burn fat and increase your lung capacity, which eventually will make you more fit.

You will get the same effect as running, so it can be a good option for athletes who want a way to step down on training and relax without losing fitness. 

Like any other water activity, you need to keep safety in mind while kayaking and wear a life jacket. Get one that won’t hinder your range of motion but, will keep you afloat if an accident happens.

You can carry a radio and first aid kit if you intend to go long distances, so you have a way to call for help if you need it. Gently ease into the sport and learn more before going on longer, riskier trips.

Best Exercise for Losing Weight

We need to exhaust some activities to help you burn the most calories each hour to lose weight and get in your best shape. The ranking of these activities depends on their accessibility and the number of calories they burn.

1. Running

Running is a natural movement for most humans and the most common option for burning calories that is  proven to work well. Depending on your weight and speed, you can burn 400 to 1,000 calories each hour by running.

2. Rope Skipping

Rope skipping is an easy and fun weight-burning activity that will burn up to 800 calories each hour. Skipping ropes is a good warm-up, and it will help you build your agility and stamina, making you more flexible.

The best part is that you can easily find a skipping rope or get an alternative to do the same task. You can do it with your friends or on your own, and you don’t need a lot of space so it will be a good choice for people living in most areas.

3. Swimming

Swimming is another fun activity that can help you burn up to 700 calories each hour. Not many people can swim for an hour straight, but swimming has several advantages. It is a full-body workout that deals with your legs, thighs, abs, and arms.

Besides this, you can get access to a swimming pool relatively quickly, and it can be fun and de-stressing to swim.

4. Cycling

The number of calories you burn while cycling will depend on your type, but this activity can burn as many as 700 calories per hour. The speed of riding, terrain, and distance will also determine how much weight you lose.

The best part about cycling is that it is low impact; it won’t put a lot of tension on your joints. You can also do it for longer hours without training.

5. Circuit Training

Circuit training is a CrossFit style of training that can help you burn up to 600 calories each hour. It involves a series of exercises that will help you build muscle mass which helps you burn more calories while resting.

You can do circuit training with bodyweight training, machines, or weights. Many programs will have sets of exercises that target different parts of your body.

Conclusion

Kayaking is a good activity for losing weight, and you can use it if you have access to a lake or river. The intensity of your kayaking will depend on the number of calories you want to burn and how fit you aspire to become.

If kayaking is not an option for you, you can pick up other healthy habits that are more convenient. You could swim, cycle, skip rope, or participate in circuit training to help you lose weight and build muscles.

Want to Work Together?

Like many other physical activities, most people find it hard to make space for kayaking in their schedule. However, deciding to integrate such activity into your life regularly will yield positive results in your health in the long run. Are you struggling to make good decisions? Are you a tired, overwhelmed, or stressed woman who’s beginning to experience negative health issues such as digestive problems, chronic inflammation, aging prematurely, and weight gain? After consistently putting in long hours and juggling too many priorities, are you desperate to make a change? 

It’s easy to neglect personal wellness in exchange for what feels good and that never-ending to-do list. The thought of adding one more thing to your list – wellness – may even tip the scale. Take the guesswork out of the individual steps needed to find balance and optimal health and let the Green Balanced Gal Wellness Program lead the way. You are unique, your food and lifestyle choices should be too, and thankfully, the Green Balanced Gal approach to wellness is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Get started today with the coaching support you need to feel your very best – mind, body, and soul! 

I want to guide you through taking back the balance and health in your life. I’d love to jump on a call with you to see how we can work together. Schedule a time here>>

About Amy

I'm an Integrative Health Coach for career-oriented, busy women in search of finding balance, wellness, and lifestyle transformation in an overworked, stressful, and boundary-blurring world.

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