Rock It
*Burns about 324 calories
If you’re looking for that ultimate arm and upper body toner, rock climbing is it—not to mention it’s a mega calorie burner.“Rock climbing works everything from the fingers to the toes,” says Calabrese. “It requires extraordinary upper back, shoulder, and hamstring strength.”
Rock climbing can be done inside on an artificial rock wall (with the safety of a matted floor below you), or outside on a rock face. If you’d rather climb in the fresh air, there’s no need to attempt the highest peak in your area the first (or any) time. You can climb at any level to get the fitness benefits. If you want to climb for 30 minutes, but don’t want to go too high, there’s always the option of climbing horizontally across the rock.
Climbing is just as much of a mental challenge as well it is a physical one. There’s planning involved to decide where to place your hands and feet next. Until you find that perfect ledge for your right foot, you may be gripping a surface with your left hand – a sure upper back workout and endurance test.
“The benefits of [climbing] are a muscle-endurance building exercise as well as an adrenaline rush as you ascend the rock,” says Calabrese.
Rock climbing is a sport that should only be attempted with proper instructions and equipment. Make sure your first time climbing is either at an indoor rock climbing wall, or overseen by a professional. Calabrese also recommends always climbing with a friend and investigating the difficulty of the climb before you start.
Check out rockclimbing.com for information about climbing areas all over the world.
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