#17 Its a sunny long weekend...go play outsideThis is a featured page


Finally, a sunny Sydney spring long weekend is on the way (my apologies to the Londoners on the distribution list)…so my fitness tip of the month is to give the gym a miss and get out in the sunshine.

Firstly, exercising outdoors is good for the soul, if you have gotten into the habit of doing all your training indoors (or not at all) over winter, now is the time to get out there and mix it up.

There are actual psychological and physiological benefits to training outdoors. Outdoor training is more engaging and mentally stimulating due to the changing scenery and terrain. The changing terrain exercises different muscle groups that can’t easily be targeted in indoor training.

Outdoor activities involve higher levels of weight-bearing activity, which means you burn more kilojoules and improve bone density. Lets be completely honest, the treadmill does the walking for you doesn’t it!

The sun is also your best source of Vitamin D. When the sun's rays hit the skin, the skin makes Vitamin D, which is absorbed in to the blood. Vitamin D is essential in building strong bones, and fighting certain cancers and immune diseases. Vitamin D is also one of the better anti depressants, there is nothing like the mood boost that comes from being outside in the sunshine (research has shown that lack of sunshine leads to depression…and maybe the reason why Pommies whinge a lot)

Also, outdoor training is quick. You can go for a walk around the block in the time it would take to get in your car and drive to the gym.

And the best thing about cardio exercise outdoors….you can have a goal that is a destination! Nothing is more soul destroying than sitting on a stationary bike for an hour and never moving from the spot in which you started.

No idea where to start with outdoor training?
  • Are you sick of the treadmill…well how about a walk/run from Coogee to Bondi Beach along the coastline?
  • Are you sick of spin classes…well how about a ride of a few laps around Centennial Park?
  • Are you sick of weights…well how about some push ups and chin ups on the exercise equipment down at Manly Beach?
  • Are you sick of the rowing machine…well how about a kayak around Middle Harbour?
A few things to remember when outdoor training:
  • The sun will dehydrate you so make sure you drink plenty of water
  • Protect yourself from the sun – and wear sunglasses (you will look cooler)
  • Uneven outdoor terrain can increase the risk of rolling an ankle, so make sure you are wearing properly fitted sneakers.
Til next month,

Chris

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