Bring Back Memories and Burn Calories
If you are tired of your normal fitness routine and are looking for something that will put you back in the school yard’s social scene, we’ve got your 5 different ways to work out! For anyone born before 1990, these calorie burning activities will be #nostalgicAF. Like the varsity jackets and chunky sneakers of the 90s, many activities are making a comeback — and reinventing themselves as fitness activities.
1. Hula Hoop: 19 Miles
Hoops. Hips. Sips
*Norcross, GA
facebook.com/HoopsHipsSips
The last time you swirled a hula hoop was probably somewhere between 8 years old and that awkward middle school phase. Basically, for most folks, the hula hoop screams #TBT, #90skid. Today hula hoop is more than just a toy — it’s making a name for itself as a super fun exercise tool. The American Council on Exercise says that 30-minutes of hooping has the same fitness outcomes as if you did 30 minutes of boot camp, dance cardio or kickboxing! The low impact combined with the focus on the core workout makes it the perfect workout to support your entire body!
The ladies of Hoops.Hips.Sips (www.facebook.com/HoopsHipsSips) meet up in various locations in Gwinnett to swivel their hips and have a good time (sometimes they may sip a little wine…and that rhymes.)
2. Softball: 14.9 Miles
Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation
George Pierce Park
55 Buford Hwy NE, Suwanee, GA 30024
www.gwinnettcounty.com
With an average of 75 teams in the spring, summer and fall seasons, Gwinnett Co co-ed, mens and church league soft ball is a hit for players looking to get in touch with their high school glory days! While you may not be in the same peak performance status as you were when you were 16 years old, the practice and game intensity is just the same as you are rounding the bases.
League play is offered at Bethesda Park and George Pierce Parks. The best news is your team picks the night and fields you prefer to play at for the season! Registration deadline for spring is February 25th! Hurry and gather your players to relive the thrill of riding the pine or hitting the game winning run!
4. Adult Roller Skating: 15.6 Miles
SkateAlong USA
744 Beaver Ruin Rd. Lilburn, GA 30047
770-921-0800
facebook.com/SkateAlongLilburn/
Lace up your skates and get rolling. The American Heart Association classifies roller skating as an aerobic fitness sport. The average person rolling around the rink for one hour can burn up to 330 calories. Skate Along USA in Lilburn hosts an ADULT ONLY night weekly on Wednesdays from 8 – 11 p.m. for $7 (not including rentals). The DJ takes it back to old skool with tunes from the 80-90’s, and if you’re lucky you might find a hand to hold during couples skating.
3. Double Dutch: 34.2 Miles
Double Dutch Aerobics Studio
2030 Bolton Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
www.doubledutchaerobics.com
Hoppin in the middle of an egg beater seems crazy, but that is exactly what the game of double dutch looks like. The founders of Double Duthc Aerobics have combined Double Dutch with an assortment of aerobic exercises (push-ups, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, etc.) all while being inside the ropes. If you don’t move quickly enough, you could get smacked in the head with the rope. For more adventurous jumpers, they have competition and street style jumping. Nervous to jump inside the ropes? The instructors have a proven track record to instruct newbys how to jump in-less than a minute.
5. Ultimate Frisbee Pick-Up Games: 0 miles
The Fountain Church
1985 Old Fountain Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
facebook.com/groups/gwinnettultimate
Ultimate Frisbee is a great sport for anyone because of its accessibility: all you really need is a disc and you’re good to go! It involves continuous movement (much like soccer made up of passing a frisbee and scoring in the end zone) which makes it a great heart pumping activity. On average, a player can track 3mi. after playing a few games.
Merik Blackburn and Grant Adams are the grandfathers of the Gwinnett Ultimate Frisbee pick-up game that was born at the beginning of 2020 out of a love of “Ultimate” and void of regular games meeting in the area. Regular pick-up Ultimate game every Saturday at 9:00am (weather permitting) at The Fountain Church in Lawrenceville.