(THP) Washington D.C. is filled with opportunities to add recreational sports to your routine – providing fun, networking, and of course a sound workout.  So what are the best, most “abulous” recreational sports you can start up to really change your body?  See the list below for challenging activities that combine fun and an incredible, well-balanced workout.

*Note – most of these activities are best suited for those with athletic abilities

• Kickboxing – by kickboxing, we mean real, punching and kicking heavy bags, kickboxing.  This amazing sport requires athleticism, strength, speed, power, agility, and incredible cardiovascular strength.  By adding this sport to your routine, you will inherently develop each of these components, which in turn will drop fat and trim your body better than any sport out there.  Lastly, kickboxing is number one on the list because anyone can start, assuming you have the equipment.  No specific skill set is required to start seeing improvements and you will likely see improvements in your form, power, and body quickly.

• Indoor Soccer - indoor soccer makes the list at number 2 simply because it is one of the best sports that build in high intensity interval training.  With a small field, you are almost always near the ball – which means you are constantly changing direction, accelerating and decelerating your body, driving your heart rate through the roof.  On top of that, if you are the competitive type, you will likely push that heart rate to new levels before you even know it – giving yourself the necessary intensity levels to foster a change in your body.  With indoor soccer, you randomly get recovery periods, so your body is constantly guessing as to when that next all out 30 yard sprint is coming, and you will burn calories like no other assuming you get quality playing time.  Leagues are scattered around the beltway for all types of skill levels, and like most sports, the better you become, the more it will pay off for you in terms of results.

• Swimming – if you’re not sure why swimming is on the list, well then you probably haven’t swam laps for some time.  Swimming makes the list because it is one of the top calorie burning exercises out there; period.  Additionally, it is a very safe environment and can easily be adapted to suit people of any age.  Granted, the working professional is hard pressed to find competitive swimming, however, this is an activity that is simply amazing for you in the heat of the summer.  Swimming engages nearly every muscle in your body, and can be a great cardio workout, and prevent your body from overheating when the sun is beating down.  If swimming for a workout, be sure to pace yourself and start with several slow laps until your body is sufficiently warm (you are breathing hard).  Similar to the interval running workout approach, build in a variation of 5-10 minutes of paced swimming, mixed with sprints of different swimming stroked for the most effective swimming workout.  Finally, be sure to cool down with a few slow laps and avoid jumping straight out of the pool to lie down.  As you likely know, avoid swimming 90 minutes after a meal and be sure a lifeguard or another person is present when pushing yourself hard.

• Tennis - tennis makes the list because of the natural fat-burning heart rate it places most intermediate to advanced tennis players.  A normal tennis match involves sprinting, coordination, power, and mostly endurance – which leads to a healthy heart, and can add lots of and healthy competition to your normal workout routine.  Further, due to the stop-and-go nature of this sport which can be played for a good two hours or more, your body is likely to naturally be in the fat-burning heart rate zone (around 60% of your maximum heart rate).  This is a perfect zone to increase cardiovascular endurance, and you will likely have fun doing so. Tennis can take quite a bit of time to pickup, but if you are up for a challenge and a new way to get some more fat-burning activities into your life, go for it!

Adding most any recreational sport is a good idea to give you variety.  We all can get tired of the same old gym routines, and recreational sports can add socializing to your workout routine.  In general, any of the sports above, along with most other recreational sports, can be considered a “cardio” day in your workout plan.  You should strive to have 2-3 cardio days a week in your plan, along with 2-3 anaerobic activities, such as weight lifting.

Proper supplementation lends extra support to bodily functions, while speeding recovery, which can make you feel more vibrant and healthy. To learn more about the best bodybuilding supplementation, such as Stemulite Fitness Formula, or whole food vitamins supplements click here>>

Author:  Alan Zimmerer