Activities That Burn Off Summer Treats

How your favorite summer activities can help you stay trim.

ByABC News
July 26, 2013, 5:07 PM

July 29, 2013— -- With summer comes balmy weather, sunshine, open beaches and the chance to finally enjoy the outdoors we've been dreaming about all winter. From surfing to hiking to mini golf, summer provides plenty of opportunities to be active. But summer is also the season of picnics, barbecues and concession stands, all offering lots of tempting treats. With summer at mid-term, we've taken a look to see how summer activities rank helping to burn off calories from our favorite summer treats.

All activity calculations are based on a person who weighs 155 lbs, weighing more means burning more calories and weighing less means burning fewer calories. The food calorie estimations are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

quicklist: 1category: Staying Fit By Having Fun in the Sun title: Day at the Beach url: text: A day at the beach doesn't have to mean just lounging in the sun. Surfing, either body or board surfing, can mean burning at least 211 calories per hour. So after catching a few waves you can indulge in a few well-deserved ice cream sandwiches, estimated at 166 calories each.

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But if you're afraid of waves taking a dip in the ocean just to tread water can help burn off a significant number of calories, approximately 281 per hour. That's nearly equivalent to 24 sugar-free popsicles at 12 calories each.

quicklist: 2category: Staying Fit By Having Fun in the Sun title: Enjoying the Great Outdoors url: text: Taking to the great outdoors can be an excellent way to enjoy the fresh air, take in nature and burn a few calories in the process. An hour of hiking cross country can burn 422 calories or nearly four granola bars at 118 calories each.

But if you want to explore nature by canoe, you can burn even more calories an estimated 493 calories per hour.

quicklist: 3category: Staying Fit By Having Fun in the Sun title: Active Birthday Party Fun url: text: A birthday party for the kids, filled with pizza and cake, doesn't have to be a calorie fest. Putting together an hour-long game of kickball with the kids can mean working off 493 calories, while a few rounds of Frisbee can mean working through 211 calories.

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An afternoon of these games would earn any parent a slice of chocolate birthday cake with frosting, at an estimated 249 calories.

quicklist: 4category: Staying Fit By Having Fun in the Sun title: Picnic Games url: text:A leisurely picnic can provide a chance for some light exercise after sandwiches. An hour-long round of badminton can burn through 317 calories or enough make a dent in the 473 calories from a roast beef and cheese sandwich.

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But if you want to burn off a side of potato salad at an estimated 358 calories per cup, you might need to spend the afternoon playing croquet, which burns 176 calories per hour.

quicklist: 5category: Activities in The Suntitle: Summer Chores url: text:Summer can also mean finally getting to all the yard work that accumulated during colder months. But at least an hour of mowing the lawn means working off 387 calories and raking up the lawn clippings means another 281 calories per hour. Either way you've more than earned a cold beer at the end of the day, at an estimated 151 calories per can.

quicklist: 6category: Staying Fit By Having Fun in the Sun title: Golf vs. Mini Golf url: text: While golf may not be the most active sport, it can still help you burn calories. An hour of golf means using 281 calories or 387 calories, if you carry your own clubs. But if you're no good with a nine iron, an hour spent on the mini golf course means working off 211 calories.

That may not seem like a lot, but it's enough to offset a half-cup of vanilla soft serve at 191 calories.