How to Lose Weight Playing Tennis

In recent years there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of people wanting to get

fit and healthy.

Sadly this usually means we have to stop buying our favorite takeaway at the weekend

and more importantly, we have to start exercising.

But never fear, there are more options than dusting off your old running shoes or hunting

for your 1990’s aerobic DVD.

A lot of people hate going to the gym and spending hours on the treadmill or cross-trainer.

If you’re one of these people then you’ll be pleased to hear that there are other alternatives

that might be more effective and more enjoyable.

“Exercise doesn’t have to be a 

chore and trying a new way to 

exercise might help you be on a 

consistent fitness track.”

Ever tried tennis as a way of losing weight?

With many psychological and physical benefits, you’ll be surprised at how it can help you.

Tennis is a Great Calorie Burner

Tennis involves using a mixture of anaerobic skills such as agility, power and speed,

combined with high aerobic movements.

It requires a substantial amount of energy.

By playing tennis a couple of times a week you will increase your calorie expenditure

leading to a calorie deficit.

“Playing a singles game of tennis

for an hour could have you burning

around 600 calories, which is more

calories burned than with

cycling or aerobics!”

Therefore, if you played 3 times a week you could be burning up to 1,800 calories, depending

on your fitness level and weight.

If you combine this with healthy eating, you’ll be well on your way to losing weight in no time.

Tennis is also an activity that will make you move in different ways to what you will probably

be familiar with, like running or cycling.

This change in activity challenges your body and therefore helps to push your body further,

burning more calories and increasing your fitness.

Tennis Increases Your Metabolic Rate

Because playing tennis is short bursts of activity followed by small rests, it is an excellent

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).

This type of workout has been proven to increase your aerobic capacity 3-4 times faster than

endurance training.

This means you’ll be able to work harder and longer in the future.

HIIT also puts your body into repair cycle mode, which helps to rev your metabolism up for

up to 24 hours after your workout.

“Combined with the HIIT style workout,

strengthening muscles means that even

when you’re not working out, your

muscles require more energy, increasing

your metabolic rate.”

You’ll use all of your basic muscle groups and help improve your overall muscular strength.

The forearm moves depend upon the energy transfer from another part of the body, usually

starting with your feet, all the muscles along the way are working to transfer that energy,

meaning you’re getting a total body workout and strength training.

Combined with the HIIT style workout, strengthening muscles means that even when you’re

not working out, your muscles require more energy, increasing your metabolic rate.

This means you will require more calories to maintain weight.

By decreasing your calories cleverly, tennis will help you with your weight loss journey.

Tennis is a Great Social Activity

Working out shouldn’t be a lonely activity.

Tennis encourages you to be social, whether that be with another club member, your partner

or friends.

By trying a new workout which you complete with others, you make it an activity that is fun,

rather than a chore.

In addition, the competition with your friends will give you an extra boost to work harder!

As a social activity, you are more likely to continue with it, leading to long term weight loss,

which as we all know, is more sustainable and effective than rapid weight loss.

Tennis could also be an excellent way to fit in exercise if you feel you don’t have the time,

combing exercise with social activities, you’re killing two birds with one stone.

You can even go on tennis holidays!

Tennis Will Help Increase Your Self-Esteem

After just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise like tennis, your body begins to release

beta-endorphins.

These increase your sense of well-being and your self-confidence.

It will also decrease the amount of the stress hormone cortisol which can often halt weight loss.

Keeping these levels down will help with confidence, stress and anxiety.

The increase in your physical fitness will also give you an ego boost.

Your increased self-esteem will help you keep motivated and on track for healthy living,

making sure that you stay consistent and avoid those dreaded ‘burn-outs’.

In Conclusion

Tennis provides excellent benefits for you and your body.

If you are looking for a new exercise activity to give you a bit of a weight loss boost,

why not give tennis a go?

Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore and trying a new way to exercise might help you be

on a consistent fitness track.

“If you played 3 times a week you

could be burning up to 1,800 calories,

depending on your fitness level and weight.

If you combine this with healthy eating,

you’ll be well on your way to losing

weight in no time.”

In time, making exercise a part of your daily routine alongside healthy eating will help you

maintain a healthy weight.

About the Author
Becky Young has been a keen tennis player for many years and discovered the weight loss benefits almost by accident! These days she manages to maintain her target weight with ease and has never been happier. When she’s not writing, or having a quick game she’s mostly running around after her young family.

Do you enjoy playing tennis?

Has playing tennis helped you to stay fit or lose weight?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

“Shared at Coffee and Conversation”