By Natalie Gingerich Mackenzie

On July 13^th, one lucky team will take home the World Cup and have the honor of calling themselves the 2014 world champions. Who will reign supreme? Before you start placing your bets, remember, anything can happen. (Look at defending champ Spain’s ouster in the first round — who would have thought!) As of this writing, Brazil, Germany and Argentina are still looking like strong contenders. So while their fútbol teams duke it out on the field, let’s get inspired by some of the ways folks in their home countries stay fit.

BRAZIL

When teeny-weeny bikinis are named after your country, fitness is no joke. Brazil is synonymous with beautiful bodies, and while not everyone looks like Gisele Bündchen, Brazilians do put a premium on health and wellness. Maybe it’s all that time spent on the sand playing fútbol or volleyball, or just strutting their stuff up and down the shoreline that helps them stay fit.

Work out like a Brazilian

Use your natural resources: Do you have access to a beach? Running or power walking in the sand is a great (and tough!) workout that’s easier on your joints than hitting the pavement. No sand? No problem. In addition to world-class beaches, Rio also boasts free exercise bars installed along city streets to encourage people to workout. Many local parks back here at home have similar fitness stations along popular running or walking routes so you can do a cardio-circuit training routine, no gym membership required.

GERMANY

Germany may have more of a reputation for beer and frankfurters than fitness, but it is also the motherland of a style of intense bodybuilding (not for the faint of heart) called German Volume Training. But if bodybuilding isn’t your thing, there are more mild-mannered ways to burn off that diet of meat and potatoes (and beer).

Work out like a German

Pump it up: Channel your inner Hans and Franz and give this muscle-making workout a try. In German Volume Training, power lifters do 10 sets of 10 reps of each exercise and are said to drop fat and build big muscle mass in a matter of weeks. Learn more here. 

Walk it off: Walking is an ideal workout the whole world over. And Germans get credit for inventing the Volksmarch, noncompetitive 5K (3.1 mile) or 10K (6.2 mile) walks that now take place all over the world. Some are events where you show up and walk with other people. Others are pre-planned routes you can show up and go solo using a map you can get at the outset. If you purchase a book to tally your completed events, you can earn points and rewards. Learn more at the American Volkssport Association website.

ARGENTINA

Despite their love for asado (steak) and big glasses of Malbec, Argentines manage to stay pretty weight-conscious. How? They take their fitness pursuits seriously. About 50 percent of Argentines work out regularly (for reference, only about 20 percent of Americans reach recommended activity levels). Buenos Aires has some 7,000 gyms in addition to running clubs and running trails throughout the city. (Going there? Find them here and here.) Bicycling has also taken off thanks to a push for new bike routes and free hour-long borrowing periods for bicis throughout the city. But it’s their narrative partner dance that most evokes the spirit of Argentina.

Work out like an Argentinian

Try some Tango: This sultry style of Argentine dance doesn’t feel anything like exercise. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t melting fat and toning muscles (especially your calves and glutes) as you do it. Look for a local dance studio that teaches the style, or check out fitness videos like Dancing With The Stars: Total Body Tango Dance Workout.