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Why do the same old thing in the gym when you could do it in the sun? Here are 5 easy, no-equipment-needed ways to enjoy the spring weather while working toward your goals!
The great outdoors offers plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun's rays while you sweat your way to a fitter physique. Just ask fitness model and WBFF competitor Jen Jewell, who's no stranger to incorporating outdoor workouts into her routine.
"It's no secret that I love to be outdoors as much as possible and take my fitness outside," she says. "Sometimes I take it to the park and do some fun obstacles or challenges to bust out of a workout rut. But other times, I simply don't want to be in the gym."
Take a page from this athlete's book, and switch up your normal training routine whenever the weather permits!
People get all caught up in being a "runner"—or, depending on who you're talking to, not being a runner. But lost in all the feuding is the fact that running itself doesn't have to be a grueling marathon. A quick 2-3 miles or a brisk walk with intervals of jogging can do wonders for your endurance without delivering a beating to your ankles and knees. As Jewell explains, how you do it isn't as important as simply getting out there and enjoying yourself.
"If you follow me on social media, you'll know that I usually skip the cardio machines at the gym and head outside," she says. "The funny thing is that I only love running when it's outdoors." For her, the change of scenery—whether it's a trail, beach, or just the sights around her neighborhood—helps keep her engaged.
Not used to hitting the pavement? Don't worry. "Even if you don't consider yourself a runner, you can start out by interspersing walking with 10-15 seconds of jogging," Jewell says. Setting small markers for yourself, such as lampposts or fire hydrants, can also help you stay motivated and focused. It's a tip even the pros use. "I'll set little benchmarks to motivate me to push harder and ultimately increase my endurance," she says.
One marker at time. It's nothing fancy, but that's the point. Just keep going!
AN OUTDOOR RUN IS A GREAT WAY TO GET OUTSIDE THE GYM, ENJOY YOUR SURROUNDINGS, AND EMBRACE FITNESS.
The fast walk from point A to point B is one of the most underappreciated forms of exercise there is. It can be as fast or slow as you want, and you can seek out difficulty like hills as much as feels right for you. Along the way, it can even introduce you to parts of your town that you had no idea existed.
"I just love to hike," Jewell says. "It's crazy to think of how many hiking trails there probably are in your city that you don't even know about. Google your city and 'hiking trails' and you'll probably find a number of hidden gems to try out." And of course it goes without saying that getting out into a remote area for a hike is also a great option!
Looking for more of test? Find a few hills to walk up, and you'll engage and strengthen your lower body and lungs. Still want to kick things up a notch? Toss a weight in your backpack and try what's known as "rucking." The additional resistance will wake up a few muscle groups you may not have felt in a while!
There are more yoga studios around than ever, and this is a great thing. However, you definitely don't have to be in a certain room at a certain temperature to get the benefits of yoga! Even if you're not at the level where you can improvise your own routine yet, you can choose from countless online routines—including thousands of free ones on YouTube—and perform them anywhere you want with the help of your phone.
"Yoga is hands-down my favorite recent addition to my training regimen," Jewell says. "I love the fact that it can be done anytime and anyplace with no equipment." Yoga is also easy to tailor to your goals, because it can be as relaxing or strenuous as you decide. "Yoga can either be spiritual and offer meditation-like benefits, or you can use it as another workout to compliment what you are already doing."
If you think yoga is simply too easy to build strength, you've got it all wrong. Many, many strong men and women have learned the hard way just how quickly yoga can expose your weaknesses. But the great thing is that it can strengthen them, too!
This is another case of "take something you'd normally do in a boring corner of the gym and do it somewhere more interesting." Don't underestimate how much of an effect this can have!
"Stretching is essential for all training regimens, but unfortunately it's usually overlooked," Jewell explains. "We do the cardio and weights, but are often in such a hurry to get home that stretching is the first thing to get glossed over."
If you're always stretching in the gym after doing the rest of your work, you're pretty likely to phone it in or cut it short. However, if you take it outside with the specific intention of doing some stretching, you can give it the attention it deserves and see real results. "There's just something about stretching outside and breathing in fresh air before and after a workout that leave me energetic, refreshed, and recharged," Jewell adds.
DON’T SKIP STRETCHING. MAKE IT A PART OF YOUR POST-WORKOUT COOL-DOWN TO HELP DECREASE FUTURE RISK OF INJURY.
