How to Burn Extra Calories on Weekend Workouts

You made it to the weekend! Aside from a break from the daily grind, it means a lighter schedule to do what you want when you want. With no meetings to run off to or deadlines to make, you have more time to devote to your sweat sessions, so here are some ways to get more out of your weekend workouts.

  1. Go long: Without having to squeeze in your workout before, during, or after your 9-to-5er, you have more time to devote to exercising, so use your weekend to do longer workouts. If you normally run or swim for 30 minutes, go for 45 or even 60. Or sign up for a two-hour hip-hop dance workshop.
  2. Fill in holes: With limited availability during the week, you might only have time to do cardio and that's it. So use your time on the weekend to devote to areas of your workout that you miss, like strength training or stretching.
  3. Break away from routine: During the week, you stick to the workouts you're used to, ones that take the least amount of prep, and ones you know are effective. That can get superboring, though, so use your weekends to ignite your passion for moving by trying something new or doing workouts that take more time. Go indoor rock climbing, sign up for paddleboard yoga classes, or try that new Tabata workout at your gym.
  4. Double up: You barely have time to fit in a 60-minute indoor cycling class during the week, so when Saturday and Sunday roll around, the extra time affords you the luxury of doubling up on classes. Burn some calories in Zumba, and then tone up in a Body Pump class. Hitting two different classes in a row will allow you to work your entire body, burn more calories (to make up for the ones you consumed during that enormous brunch), and can be extremely exhilarating when you're used to only taking one.
  5. Exercise to your workout: You drive to your workouts during the week to allow as much time for your actual workout, so on the weekends, use the extra time to burn more calories by walking, running, or biking to the gym.
  6. Get sweaty: You may not have time to shower after your workout during the week, so on Saturdays and Sundays, do as intense a workout as you can, with no worries about how stinky and sweaty you get — you'll have a relaxing shower to look forward to afterward.
  7. Explore: A more flexible weekend schedule means you have more time to travel to your workouts. Go some place new to hike, run, or bike ride, or hit that yoga studio across town everyone's been raving about. You could even make an overnight trip out of it and drive a few hours away to a new exercise destination.
  8. Get together: Since your friends are most likely off these two days as well, make a plan to get together with a few and work out. It's amazing how a group can motivate you to push harder than you normally would on your own.

Source: Flickr user eugeneyoga