The Great Outdoors
I love, love, love this time of year. The best part is taking workouts outdoors.
After the long winter that we had, getting outdoors and working out feels so good. Just the beauty of nature can put anyone who is in a bad mood or stressed out at in a better mood. You cannot help to to smile when you see Robin's building their nest and flowers starting to bloom and neighbors coming out to groom their yards and the smell of hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill.
Yes this time of year is great, but along with this time of year comes a reality check-Bathing Suit Season. This is the time to get that suit on and take a look in the mirror and see what needs to be toned and worked on for the upcoming season.
The season had already begun and I am hearing the words that I usually hear around this time of the year. "I'm out of shape, I have to go on a diet, I look terrible in my swimsuit, I am not even going to wear a swimsuit, and along with all these words come stress and depression.
I have to laugh because everytime I write a newsletter like this I have many of you who feel that I am writing this about you, however the reality is I am writing this because many women are feeling this way right now. Not only that, you have women that are in good shape feeling this way. Everyone is critcal of what they look like especially in a bathing suit.
So the first thing I want to say about this is quit stressing and quit making yourself depressed over this. It's not worth your health and it's just wasted energy and it's not going to help you feel any better about your body.
So Marcia what will make me feel better about myself and improve my body? Glad you asked: EXERCISE.
Look around you there are a million things you can be doing and you don't need money to do it. Parks are free. And I haven't been to a ugly park yet. Go take your friends, your kids or your dog and go walk the parks around your area. Get some good cardio in by power walking, walk/running, or running. I can't say enough about bike trails. I love these bike trails, get on a bike and ride. Swimming, Rollerblading, Gardening, Pushing a lawnmower,Tennis, and the list goes on of great outdoors activities that you can burn calories with and have fun.
The benefits of taking it outdoors is endless.
First just the air your breathing. Instead of being in a room where the smell of sweat is in the air you could be out on the trail where time to time the smell of flowers and fresh cut grass is in the air. Granted once in awhile you come across a dead animal smell but such is life.
Second, taking it outdoors is also a great way to crosstrain. Doing something different that the body is not use to. I have like a spring/summer, fall/winter exercise schedule where the exercises I do are totally different. In the spring/summer and late fall 80% of my workouts are outdoors.This is to keep me from getting bored and also to give my body something new so that I can keep it from getting use to a certain exercise routine.
Third, getting that Vitamin D. I have included an article on Vitamin D and the importance of it in this newsletter.
Fourth, the great outdoors can help with stress and depression. Get in your car drive to the nearest park and enjoy. Take a stroll leave the cell phone and enjoy nature. You will see ducks fooling around in the lake or you may see kids having a great time on the playground or a older couple powerwalking, and that will put anyone in a better mood. If your stressed go play tennis or run. It has always been amazing to me how my life can become chaotic and in the middle of chaos I go for a run. Running make you think and then it clears your head. I feel ten times better after a run.
Outdoors exercise can also be a family affair. Get a couple families together and play softball. Take the kids on a hike. Even the dog can be included in outdoor events.
Now I want to stress this isn't a free ticket to get out of your aerobic class either. I want you booties in class!!!! Remember you need your base exercise class to pull you thru the spring/ summer months. I cut my classes back in the spring and summer anyhow because I also want to take my workouts outdoors. But I love to keep a couple classes going for the mere fact of knowing that you are getting a great hard workout. Like I always say, you work out much harder when you are in a group setting.
I heard some of you clapping thinking I was giving you permission to cut class during the spring and summer but that's a big no, I just want you out there exercising in the great outdoors when you are not in class.
Personal Note this Month: Great Job on those who participated in the Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon. To accomplish either one of those is a great accomplishment and you should be proud of yourselves. Molly, the girls in class and I are proud of you. Stephanie my friend, good job and congrats. And to anyone else that I know Congrats.
Rachel Carson people your next on the chopping block. Training has been great everyone is looking strong and I know we will have a great year this year. Keep up the good work and training.
Happy Mother's Day to all and also Happy Memorial Day. Enjoy those picnics. Remember one day does not make you overweight. Enjoy the holiday.
