Spring into a New You – Exercise Outdoors!

If you made a few New Year resolutions, no doubt you have been working hard at a great fitness routine by lacing up your sneakers and exercise outdoors, right?  Well, unfortunately with the cold winter months, those sneakers might not have laced up as much as intended. The coach may have called your name a little too loudly. Instead of lacing up your shoes, you took them off and got in “couch potato” mode. Luckily, Spring is in the air and it’s time to spring into action with a solid exercise routine!

Spring brings a lighter step back to your, perhaps, lackluster attitude. The fresh air and surroundings of fresh blossoms offer added excitement and motivation to get moving!  Here are a few ideas that might motivate you to get your workout on…outdoors!

1.     Make a date with a friend for a walk and a talk.

When two heads get to together you can certainly do a lot of problem solving! Honestly, a lot of problems just solve themselves if you just talk it out with another person.  Then celebrate your progress with a high nutrient green drink to refresh your thirst. Talk and Walk It Off Now – a 6-week walking workout program that will surely bring success by shedding pounds and inches. Check it out here.

2.     Make a date with yourself to do one thing for YOU.

It might sound selfish to schedule some “me” time but it’s as important as the people you love.  “If momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.”  Schedule some time for you that only you enjoy, it’s that important. Watch the sunset, or get up early to see the sunrise.  Go for a walk or run in the quiet moments of the day.  Or take a relaxing candlelit bath. It will improve your mood, your perspective and your outlook.

3.     Stop thinking of exercise as something you have to do, it’s something we get to do.

For those of us with good health, thank God for every moment and motion.  Praise Him for His wonderful works in you and for what He is doing to change you to think in healthy ways.

4.     Fitness should be fun!

Find an activity that you love—adult kickball, soccer, roller skating or blading, anything, even Frisbee! Mix up your walking or jogging route by running the opposite direction.  Pet a cat, play chase with your dog, take time to smell the flowers or trees that are blooming right now. Run to the park and back instead of at the park only.  Put a big goal on your “to-do” list to encourage you to push past your “normal” routine, and nudge yourself to go just a little further.  You can do more than you think you can, but you have to give yourself permission to go there!

5.     Step out and to find out how many ways you can burn a few calories.

Many forms of exercise don’t require expensive equipment at all, just a refocus on your goals and how you think about exercise. Shoot…just doing “life” stuff is exercise! Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, landscaping, and gardening in general. You’re more likely to stick to an exercise that makes you smile over that in which you dread.

There’s no rule that says you have to spend an hour a day slogging it out on gym equipment bored out of your skull while mulling over your attempts at good health. Celebrate your forward steps, what you have “released” (as in weight, emotions, unhealthy strongholds and choices), and how you’ve regained the love of taking action for a more positive perspective of life.

Open your mind’s door and…think outside the box!  Getting outside helps!  Fresh air is invigorating!  Don’t forget to laugh, it burns calories too!  (It’s great for your abs and even better for your soul.)

Don’t shoot for being perfect in exercise, aim for consistency!  Just keep moving forward every day!  A step away from where you are today is a step towards your goal.  Forward movement and motion toward your goals can be a shot of motivation, but you must take the time to acknowledge every positive step you take. They all count!