Fall is the Time to Take Your Workouts Outside
Fall is so beautiful, how can you not get outside and enjoy it? I love the cooler weather and the changing colors of the trees are just amazing! Physical activity outdoors burns calories, lowers a person's blood pressure and heart rate, and boosts a person’s mood. And, with COVID going on, being outside is the safest place for you to be. Here are some of the activities I enjoy during the fall:
1. Hiking: This is typically my cardio work out that I do three times a week. When I hike I do it one of three ways. My favorite way is to challenge myself by hiking FAST! I used to be a trail runner, but due to back issues (spinal stenosis), I had to pretty much give it up. So, hiking fast gets me close to a run with great cardio and calorie burn benefits. Even if you can't go fast, make sure you are challenging yourself by getting your heart rate up so you are burning calories. Which brings me to the second way I workout on the trails…hike as many hills as you can. This will cause you to go slower, but the challenge is so worth it. You’re heart rate will be up and you might have to stop a few times taking the hills, but keep doing them! They do get easier. My third way to hike is to take the time to stop and enjoy the change of seasons within the trails. The trees and wild flowers are beautiful this time of year in Ohio and I always enjoy seeing more deer during the fall too. This might not burn as many calories, but sometimes you need to just stop and take in all the beauty. If you missed my last blog on hiking Idaho, go here.
2. Trail Running: I still have to put this one in here even though I don't do it as much. If you are a runner, you definitely should try running trails. The dirt is definitely more gentle on joints and you just feel at peace when you're on the trails. You will find that you go much slower while you're running trails since you do need to watch for roots and rocks, but don't worry about going slow. Take your time, enjoy the nature, and notice how wonderful you feel at the end of your run.
2. Biking: I started bicycling when I was told that running was bad of my spinal stenosis. It’s also gentler on my knees and joints and I still get great cardio in. This is a great activity you can do with your spouse, friends, or by yourself. My husband, Nevio, and I go to the bike trails weekly and then I usually go one other day with a friend or by myself. We have a beautiful tree lined bike trail here in southern Ohio that we enjoy going to.
3. Outdoor workouts: I live right next to a beautiful park (Ault Park) and the gardens are amazing. I have Fit & Fab workouts around the gardens with my groups spring through fall. We bring some equipment, but we mainly use things around the park such as stairs, benches, grass, walls, and lines in the cement. It's a great way to get outside and enjoy the fall. If you're interested, send me a message here.
4. Doing Yard Work: If you have a house, you most likely are doing some kind of yard work. Raking, mowing, weeding, and cleaning up the gardens is a great way to burn calories. It can also improve your dexterity, strength, and bone density. Check out this article, about gardening, from the University of Arkansas here.
What do you enjoy doing as a workout in the fall? Leave me a comment below.
