Hobbies that help lose weight without feeling like exercise (low impact)?

I enjoy road cycling and trail riding on my mountain bike...they are as much hobby and recreation for me as they are exercise. I also do some hiking here and there when I can, but I have to allot for a good chunk of time for that...mostly hike when I'm camping.

I spent the day at a stately home. Love going to them
I only book to visit the gardens (today's was 1880 acres) and I walk looking at the sculptures, the scenery, the plants etc

My legs are protesting now (joint issues and conditions) but while I'm out I don't notice

I also love to hike, I'm on the edge of the peak district so spoilt for stunning routes. I go with the kids, usually have the near 5 year old on my back

Exercise and family time combined ☺️

I would say cycling but it's consumed my life and money and now I have awful tan lines

Rather than trying to find an activity you can do year round — and that depends on the climate where you live — you could do different activities different times of year. Cycling, swimming , gardening in warmer months as mentioned. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing etc in cold months. The variety might help keep you better motivated.

I'm in Massachusetts and have garden projects March - Nov.

Late Sep - Apr I do trail maintenance, which is a lot like gardening, so gardening year round!

I always bring hand clippers in a waist pack when I hike, and when I notice a big mess, next time I'll bring the loppers or a bow saw.

Other people get out there with a chain saw for really big messes. I never see them, but am very grateful to them!

chocolate_owl wrote: »

...Bird watching. If going hiking feels like exercise, looking for birds might make it more of a game.

As a birder of some experience, birding doesn't result in much hiking. You tend to walk slowly and scan the trees or grasses carefully looking for tiny movements. In fact, since 1992, there's been an annual October birding event called "The Big Sit" wherein groups sit in a circle and count the number of species they see from that circle in a 24 hour period.

Perhaps join the Sierra Club for hiking at any speed whatsoever. Once, three groups (I was a member of two of them) met at the same time in a refuge parking lot, the local Sierra Club, the local Audubon Chapter (birders), and a naturalists group. An hour later, the Sierra Club folks had been to the end of the trail and were on their way back, the birders were lumped about 1/4 of a mile in with their spotting scopes set up discussing who exactly was in the pond, and the naturalists were still at the edge of the parking lot trying to identify all the bugs and lichen on the rocks they overturned.

Also, a word of caution from experience: Do not try to watch birds and flowers at the same time. For one you look up for little things that move for the other you look down for little things that don't. If you try to do both at the same time you see nothing and feel slightly nauseous.

Personally I take a slightly different tactic. I like walking, and have access to treadmills at home & work. But I need mental stimulation - so I read Kindle books while on the treadmill. I like mysteries & crime drama, and the time flies by. I pay $9.99 for Amazon Unlimited, which gets me access to a lot of Kindle books for free. Some even have the audio for free. Which is nice because then I can switch to the audio in the car for driving to/from work.

SO... if there is something you already enjoy doing, look for ways to use those hobbies more actively.

Rannoch3908 wrote: »

Cycling sounds interesting - maybe start with my current beach cruiser around town? Going right to a mountain bike and trails sounds intimidating. But maybe with time. I would need to buy something besides a beach cruiser I suppose.

Beach cruiser is just fine. We typically go to Pacific Beach San Diego once per year and we rent beach cruisers to get around and do everything from getting to the restaurant to grocery shopping to just exploring the area...great fun and great exercise.

softball - or any sport really.