Watch Video:

Gyms: Not the Healthier Option

To answer the question: What's Always With You & Healthier Than a Gym - it's the outdoors. Yes, gyms have a couple nice features like an incline treadmill on a super rainy day and a sauna. However, I prefer working out at home over a gym. I get lot's of natural light thru the windows and there's no primping or drive time. Plus, my wallet stays a little thicker.

Instead of the hassles, stuffy recycled air, and monotonous atmosphere in a gym - not to mention somebody else's sweaty fluids on the equipment - try the at home option. With minimal equipment at home - I can lift weights, do HIIT/LIIT (high or low intensity interval training), strength & flexibility Yoga, kickboxing, and primal flow mobility workouts.

Besides DVD's, there's 2 online platforms you can add to your smart TV that have butt kickin' workouts - and YouTube is free. Choose instructors who are motivating & challenging and join one their classes. Remember, you're in it to win it - the amazing benefits that it.

Take advantage of the outdoors for a 30 minute activity during your lunch break and get your heart rape up, especially if you sit at a desk all day. Find out why it's important to move your body a few times per day: Build Muscle/Bone, Stay Youthful Past 60.

It's best to get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5 days/week for mental & physical health. And there's lots of outdoor activities that qualify.

Personally, I love the outdoors. It's the most fun I have doing activities that keep me fit and happy. My top 3 are hiking, kayaking, and biking, but I'd like to get back into snow skiing & horseback riding. FYI: it's easy to take weights, jump rope, or a yoga mat outdoors.

The outdoors is definitely healthier than a gym - that's your invitation to go enjoy the beautiful outdoors. It requires no appointments, no monthly fees, and no hassles. Well.... maybe an occasional little hassle if you forgot your electric pump for the kayak or your bicycle gets a flat. The best benefits come when you're in nature, away from traffic, noise, and pollution.

The outdoors is healthier than a gym in 4 ways:

1. The outdoors provides sunshine & fresh air.

2. You're not limited to the gym in one location - you have the whole world to romp around in.

3. The outdoors has a variety of terrain, wind, and temperatures - offering better balance, mobility, overall strength, and the outdoors potentially burns more calories than inside a gym.

4. Your senses and happy hormones are more delighted when you're surrounded by the beautiful sights of nature, the interesting sounds of nature, and the smells of nature like the beach or woods. Plus, there's little treasures to be found along the way - like a hundred butterflies sipping up minerals, a green tree frog, or a red spotted mushroom. You won't find any of that in a gym.

The Outdoors is Always With You

The outdoors is always with you, where ever you go. Is it really exercise if you're having fun outdoors? Absolutely. Almost anywhere, you'll be able to find a huge variety of exercise activities available during the warm & cold seasons. And, there's options for the beginners as well as the extreme sports lover.

You won't get the same level of sheer excitement as you climb higher on a stair master, as you will reaching a mountain top with views that'll take your breath away. And the rowing machine will never beat kayaking over the rapids in a stunning river scene in the mountains.

Another option is public parks that offer exercise equipment circuits, or having renting equipment onsite. The gorgeous outdoors is packed with fun exercise activities that will keep you smiling for days after.

Calories Burned - Gym vs Outdoors

Harvard Health Publishing has compared gym exercise to outdoor activities. The statistics below are the calories burned for a 155 pound person doing the activity for 30 minutes. Calories burned is less for smaller people & more for heavier people. Also, the effort to burn the calories listed are for normal activity intensity, and not vigorously.

More Physically Fit = More Energy

Studies have proven that getting consistent exercise & being physically active will do 2 critical things: it improves the amount of oxygen you inhale and improves blood circulation.

Your body will actually get more efficient at circulating oxygen to your lungs, heart & muscles. Also, with increased blood flow your body is able to transport food nutrients to your muscles & organs more efficiently.

Socialization

Being outdoors gives you plenty of natural ways to accidentally "bump" into someone (oops!) that hopefully leads to a new friendship. People at the gym usually want to focus, and keep moving thru their routine. Outdoor people on the other hand will usually enjoy a conversation before heading off.

Hikers & kayakers are prime targets, unless they're heading into some rapids. If a hiker appears to be gasping for air on the incline, he/she will welcome a stop & conversation. Here's a conversation starter: people with dogs are almost always friendly especially if you start with "you're dog is so adorable, what's his name?" You'll have a captive audience at a dog park, and dog owners welcome a nice conversation. I used to meet lot's of men & women there.

Volunteer Outdoors

Another option for physical activity, with an added boost of complete satisfaction is to volunteer outdoors. It's a double Win-Win for you and a Win for them. Every week, I volunteer at a therapeutic horse facility. While it's pretty much non-stop activity with the horses, the clients, and around the property - it's really enjoyable, satisfying, and stress relieving. There's so many other volunteer opportunities: clean-up outdoors with your church group at the home of an elderly person or clean-up on the beach.

Sleep Quality

Being outdoors in the sunshine for just 10-15 minutes first thing in the morning helps the body's internal clock - to set your sleeping & waking cycles. Once that happens, you'll find you can fall asleep and stay asleep better.

Studies show that when you add moderate intensity activity into the mix, processes in your body & brain help produce more happy hormones & less stress hormones - and sleep quality improves.

Mental Health

The outdoors lift your mood and overall feeling of happiness and wellbeing. It helps reduces stress, anxiety, and depression which in turn lowers blood pressure & heart rate. The outdoors also improves focus. Being in nature can be an awesome source of healing & restoration.

Sunshine & Fresh Air

Sunshine & fresh air are vital components to a healthier life. Have you heard that people living in areas with only 4-5 hours of daylight can get depressed more easily than those with a full day of daylight & sunshine. One source of vitamin D is the sun, and many people are deficient.

For example: places closest to the north & south poles get 24 hours of daylight in the summer months. But, from fall to spring, daylight hours begin shrinking down to about 4 hours and the rest of the day is darkness. Been there, done that.

Did you know that sunshine can help with weight loss? Vitamin D in the body helps minimize fat cells, maintains metabolism, and regulates appetite. If you need to get your sleep cycle on track - within 1 hour of waking (the sooner the better) - get 5-15 minutes of sunlight or if it's cloudy, get 15-20 minutes. Be consistent with the time you go to bed and the time you get up.

Vitamin D is also needed for bones, the immune system, absorbing certain minerals, and blood cells. Sunshine also helps your body produce serotonin - the feel good hormone that reduces stress/anxiety, gives you more energy, keeps you focused, and lifts your mood.

Don't forget sunscreen if you're going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes.

For Variety - Indoor Activities

• Dance lessons - salsa, ballroom, or line dancing with cowboy!. Or, go dancing with friends on Friday nights and just let loose.

• Bowling with a friend or with a team.

• Rock climbing - indoor options are fun if it's too cold outside.

• Classes - kickboxing, martial arts, and yoga. Some are offered outside.

• Swimming laps - for a little variety, throw in a couple dives.

• Racquetball indoors if it's not available outdoors.

• Ice skating indoors & out. I used to love ice skating....I wasn't triple Lutz good, but I could do a few twirly tricks.

• Spring clean your house - Uh.... sorry, NOT on the fun list!

• Rock climbing - there's places all over the world you can attempt to conquer.

• Yoga engages all your muscles, challenging strength, flexibility, and balance.

• Swimming uses more muscles simultaneously for total body benefits.

• Outdoor exercise circuit park. For upper body strength, try battle ropes.

• Bring hand weights to the park for upper/lower body workouts.

• Gymnastics - practice your moves at the beach or in the park.

• Volleyball & tennis.

• Badminton & pickle ball.

• Do 5k mud or obstacle runs. It's fun & challenging, especially thru deep mud. FYI: before attempting the 7 foot high wall with no rope assist - learn the technique or you'll be needing an awkward boost up from the guy behind you!!!

• Team sports: softball, kick ball, baseball, hockey, basketball, football, rowing, polo, and rugby.

If you're by yourself, and need a little motivation - here's a fun hack: bring your favorite tunes & start rockin' to your happy jam. Before you know it, you've gone 1/2 mile! To help you find your jam, I've listed some examples of fun outdoor activities.

• Go paddling. Paddle a kayak/canoe down river for fitness & mind relaxation. Or, paddle a tube, raft or kayak thru whitewater rapids for exhilarating fun. It's guaranteed to supercharge your happy.

• Rollerblade along a river walk and have fun exploring for miles.

• Bicycle your way down a nature trail, alternating from low to high intensity. Or, hit the mountain trails.

• Hike up the mountain for a solid leg & cardio workout.

• Hike to your favorite destination - my favorite is to waterfalls.

• Gardening for an hour can still boost mobility & strength, and help calm the mind.

• Golf, and for added calorie burn carry your golf clubs.

• Horseback riding, and don't forget to brush him afterwards.

• Snow skiing and water skiing.

• Scuba diving & snorkeling.

• Ice skating and sledding if you walk back up the hill.

• Cross country skiing & snow-shoeing.

• Dog sledding in summer or winter.

Next Blog...