It has been a long, cold winter so far. We have survived the coldest months of 2009. We have seen it all…snow, ice and frigid temperatures. As a personal trainer whose primary job is to motivate, the weather this winter has made my job extremely challenging. Nobody wants to walk or run outside in the freezing cold. In fact, it’s so much easier just to stay inside all bundled up.
Now that we have reached Daylight Savings, the days seem longer and there is more light. How we all miss the light!!! Winter is almost behind us and spring is coming. The sun is shining and most of the sidewalks are clear. It’s time to come out of hibernation and get our exercise outside.
This is the time of year we look forward to our spring break and we start to plan our summer holidays. Then we wonder how we are ever going to fit into our bathing suits!
The good news is that we have another three months to prepare for the warmer weather. And what better way to get psyched up than taking our workouts outdoors.
Here are a few tips to shake up your exercise routine and at the same time, get that much needed dose of vitamin D.
- Walk, walk, walk. If you can, ditch the car and get the legs moving. Instead of driving the kids to school, walk. And how about a sneaking in a brisk walk to the grocery store? Grab those bags and walk to the store instead.
- Get off that treadmill and take it to the streets! Treadmills are ideal for super cold or icy days, but nothing beats the fresh air you get from a run outside.
- Hoof it to the park and bring your tubing. Tubing with handles are terrific for a mini park workout. You can sneak in some bicep curls, shoulder presses or tricep extensions while in the park.
- Step don’t sit…on the park bench that is! You can work your chest by grabbing the top of the park bench and completing some push-ups. Or you can do some step-ups on the park bench to work your lower body.
- Treat yourself. After a brisk walk with a friend, treat yourself to a fancy coffee. You deserve it!
- Tackle those hills. Find some hills in your neighbourhood and power walk up them. Shorten up your stride, stand tall, relax your upper body and tighten up those core muscles for a terrific workout.
- Visualize how you want to look and feel. Write it down. Cut out some pictures. It is always easier to be motivated when we have clearly defined goals. For example, do you want to train for a spring 10km, half marathon or marathon? Perhaps you want to start up a new fitness program? Maybe you simply want to increase your energy levels or to be able to run around the block without stopping.
So shake things up a little. Get out there, soak up that sunlight and have some fun. The key is to move your body as much as you can. And remember that your kids learn by example!!!
Happy trails!
Disclaimer
The way to optimal health is to combine good sensible nutrition with consistent strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Consult with a physician before embarking on a new exercise plan. Stop immediately if you feel any pain while doing these exercises.