Shed your Winter workout routine and step outside for a breath of fresh air....to burn some calories!
Outdoor exercise is not only good for you, it's fun too! Next Apartment has some great ideas on how you can make the most of your workout while reaping the benefits of being outside.
Fresh air is great for the body. Among the many benefits to fresh air, you will find it can perk you up and improve your immune system, heart rate, and blood pressure. Combining exercise with fresh air will make your workout easier and better for you!
If you are looking to burn calories, outdoor exercise is going to give you more bang for your buck because it offers you unanticipated resistance. Nature is full of hills, rough trails, and weather that will provide excellent resistance for any workout. It will also help distract you and keep you working out longer, which means you can burn more calories without even thinking about it.
Boost your mood - anytime you're under the sun, you're gaining valuable vitamin D. Taking a long walk, jogging, or hiking through the woods gives you exposure to the sun, fresh air, and will help increase production of endorphins. Endorphins are the hormones throughout your body that make you feel good, help alleviate pain, and reduce stress.
Exercise while doing something you love! Outdoors sports are great exercise. But if you're not into sports, hop onto a bicycle instead. The scenery is much more interesting than on a bike in the gym, and you will use more muscles than you would with a stationary bike. Cycle to work, along a trail in the woods, or just around your neighbourhood.
When you live in a Next Apartment building, you can easily find a park within walking distance. Not sure what can you do at a park for exercise? Use a park bench for step up exercises, lunges, incline pushups, and even burpees. Trees can also help with your workout. Try explosive jumps to reach a tree branch, climb a tree, or use several trees as markers to combine running, sprinting, walking, and jogging.
Whenever you exercise outdoors, be sure to stay hydrated, wear proper footwear, and apply sunscreen.