As the southwest starts to move from a damp, gloomy spring into a steamy, glorious summer (we had 85 degree heat a couple days ago!), we’re hitting the fitness train extra hard. We know that in a few short weeks it’ll be too hot to hide our beer-bellies under baggy sweaters, so we’re following our own tips and eating healthier, hitting the gym, and avoiding those 3000 calorie margaritas (most of the time). Then we thought, we love dating, and we love getting fit and sexy… why not combine the two? So we came up with a list of fun date ideas that won’t add to your waistline – in fact, they might help shrink it!

1. A hike and a picnic

The beach is fun and the mountains are beautiful, but lots of times people ignore the awesomeness of hiking trails. They can range from the relaxing and quiet to glute-burning misery, so make sure you pick something within your (and your date’s) capabilities. Check out NatureFind to find a trail near you. Bring a backpack with a fruit bowl, or hummus with carrots and maybe an eco-friendly boxed wine (skip the Gallo and try one of these). You’ll end the date dirty, tired, and sweaty… but isn’t that how all great dates end?

2. A color/mud/glow run

If you and your date are reasonably fit as it is, a weekend themed 5k can be a awesome way to burn some calories, and work up an appetite for a fun healthy brunch date after. From color runs where you’ll get pelted with a rainbow of corn starch, to mud runs where you’ll climb through piles of mud and hop over fire, there is something that will appeal to anyone (that is, anyone who doesn’t HATE aerobic activity). Check out Active to find a run near you.

3. Stand up paddle-boarding, kayaking, wake boarding

If you have a reasonably sized body of water near you (we’re lucky to have beaches, bays, and lakes right at our backyards, NBD), check out a site like Yelp or Groupon for specials on water sports lessons. You’ll spend an hour or two learning something new, getting a workout, and scoping out your date’s butt in a bathing suit. Everyone wins!

4. Rock climbing

Even if you don’t live in Yosemite Valley, you can try out some climbing at a rock climbing gym! It’s a PHENOMENAL core workout and a partnered activity, and nothing is sexier than seeing someone struggle to hold on to a quarter-sized piece of plastic while their ass is crammed into an unflattering harness, right? Use ClimbFind to locate a gym near you and tell your date they’ll be “grabbing on to something rock-hard and 3 stories tall.” They’ll either be intrigued or horrified.

5. Uh, sex, duh

Maybe you’re short on cash. Or perhaps it’s too late and all those options up there aren’t available. Or maybe you’re just horny – but one great date for people looking to slim down is to get some booty! Yes, we did find out a while ago that sex might not burn as many calories as we previously thought, but that doesn’t change the fact that a good night of gettin’ down and dirty will leave your body sore (in a good way). In fact, we’d say the best date ever would be a morning color run, followed by a wake boarding sesh, an evening climb, and then a night of – well, you get the picture. You’ll wake up the next day barely able to climb out of bed, but then you’ll definitely deserve a big ol’ breakfast. Talk about the perfect weekend!

What are YOUR favorite athletic dates? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: Men’s Fitness