5 Ways to Exercise Outside Smarter…Not Harder
If you are anything like me, the warmer weather has you wanting to get outside! Why not get the best of both worlds, soak up some vitamin D while getting in your daily workout? Long walks on a Sunday afternoon are amazing, but thinking creatively and implementing these tactics can upgrade your fitness routine.
These are my go-to tips for success:
- Find a partner: Spouse, friend, child, and dog – all make awesome workout partners. They will keep you going.
- Vary your location: Add diversity to your trek by utilizing parks, lakes, and trails to add diversity to your trek.
- Try new tools: Bands, dumbbells and TRX trainers are all portable forms of equipment to take along with you.
- Be creative: No equipment, no problems. Park benches, playgrounds and tracks offer endless possibilities.
- Use park benches to exercise: Squats, step-ups, push-ups, planks
- Turn the playground into your gym: Pull-ups, lunges, stairs/climbing
- Go to the track: Circuits, stairs, interval training
- Log your efforts: Find encouragement in tracking your progress. Many activity trackers or apps calculate steps, miles, active minutes and more
Get outside for a great place for exercise! In fact, a Scottish Health Survey found that outdoor exercise was associated with decreased tension, confusion, anger and depression. Think beyond your normal exercise routine and let the great outdoors be your guide!
Ellen Thomsen, MS, RD, LMNT, CDE is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner. She is the diabetes education program coordinator and sees patients the Millard Clinic. She works with patients to identify root causes to health conditions and make changes to improve overall health. Ellen’s passion is to help others develop lifestyle habits that allow them to feel their best.
