Best Winter Sports for Weight Loss

In cold weather, you can do various activities that are not only fun, but you can also burn a lot of calories while doing them. We focused on the most typical winter sports and found out which are the best for losing weight. You might be surprised to learn that sledding is among them.

Downhill skiing it is extremely suitable for throwing – it engages almost all muscle groups. In addition to the buttocks, legs, arms, middle of the body and back, this winter sport is also good for strengthening the heart and improving the overall physique. You can spend around 1700 kJ (400 kcal) in an hour of moderately demanding skiing. Of course, it depends on the type of terrain and driving style “When you’re in control, drive at a brisker pace and don’t linger too long at the bottom of the cable car. Be careful about the correct position of the pelvis when leaning forward – don’t stick out your butt and don’t flex your lumbar area unnecessarily,” advises nutritionist and fitness trainer Alena Vídeňská.

And if you want to really put your body in, switch to the ski alpines. Cross-country skiing is physically demanding and therefore ideal for weight loss. In one hour of such movement, you burn almost 3000 kJ (700 kcal). What about snowboarding? Riding a board is more demanding than skiing, so you can lose weight better. However, the same conditions apply here: again it depends on the terrain and driving speed. Snowboarding also supports the activity of the heart, strengthens the inner abdominal and back muscles, thighs and buttocks. It is great for shaping the lower body. In one hour of snowboarding, you will consume approximately 1900 kJ (450 kcal).

Skating is fun for the whole family and at the same time a suitable activity for getting and keeping in shape. If the pond is frozen enough, head out for fresh air! Fun on the ice can be enjoyed even at higher temperatures – just find the nearest stadium and there are many artificial ice rinks, they often invite you to skate for free. “Skating will strengthen and maintain your physical condition, as well as strengthen the muscles in your legs and buttocks. But watch out for injuries,” advises fitness trainer Kateřina Hollerová. In one hour of recreational skating, you burn around 2000 kJ (470 kcal).

One of the healthiest movements is cross-country skiing. It involves up to 99 percent of the muscles! “Cross-country skiing has a number of advantages. Not only is it a gentle sport that saves the joint apparatus, and is therefore also suitable for overweight people, but above all, you involve the whole body comprehensively,” says Alena Vídeňská. On cross-country skis, you really strengthen problem areas such as the stomach, chest, legs, shoulders and buttocks. Of course, it depends on the length and difficulty of the route, as well as what speed and style you ride. When skating uphill, you will definitely use more energy than when skating on the flat. When you exceed the speed of thirteen kilometers per hour, you can burn up to 4350 kJ (1040 kcal) per hour, with skating style even 800 kJ (190 kcal) more.

Another winter activity, which you probably wouldn’t say, proves that losing weight can be real fun. You can get rid of calories even while sledding. You can use up to 1200 kJ (280 kcal) per hour on sleds and bobsleds. Of course, it is not about driving down, but above all about running up a snowy hill. So combine the pleasant with the useful and go sledding together with the children. Some ski areas also offer toboggan runs, where you can especially strengthen your abdominal muscles and core.