May is outdoor activities month on Ignite and for a lot of people, this is a great time of year to jumpstart your fitness programs. But you don’t have to have a fitness program to be active and enjoy the outdoors.
I'm trying to revive my fitness program by commuting to and from work on my bike and running at lunch a couple days a week. Running during lunch is therapeutic in that it forces me to get out of the office and clear my head. I come back relaxed and with a different perspective on my projects. A lunch time run also helps curb unhealthy cravings. For example, yesterday I was craving pizza, but instead of giving in to the temptation I went for a run. By the time I got back, not only didn’t I have enough time to go out and get pizza, but it no longer sounded appetizing.
But there are other great ways to get some outdoor exercise that don’t necessarily require a fitness program. Mowing the lawn is one example – I get about 1 ½ hours of extra steps in at least once a week just walking behind the mower. Don’t have a large yard? Why not offer to mow a neighbor’s yard – especially an elderly neighbor. Your body will get the extra work and you’ll feel better for lending a hand.
If you have children, there are plenty of ways to get some extra activity on the weekend and some quality family time. For me it starts Saturday morning when I take my eldest daughter, who’s four, to soccer practice. While I hope she’s the next Mia Hamm, the soccer program is more about getting kids moving, developing motor skills and social networking than it is about refining soccer skills. And rather than taking her to soccer practice and just sitting on the sidelines with my coffee, I offered to help the coach. Have you ever tried keeping up with a bunch of four year olds for an hour? That definitely gets the heart rate up. After soccer practice it’s time for quality time with my two year old daughter. She and I will go to the playground or just take a walk around the neighborhood. After that, it’s nap time for all three of us…
I'd love to hear what you do to stay active outdoors - just post your comments to this blog. I'm always looking for ways to sneak in a little exercise - whether it's for me or the entire family.
Jason - a Lumen
