Fall in outdoors for exercise as summer falls out (10/22 Courier Press Article)
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The sound of rustling leaves, a brisk cool breeze…its fall yall! I absolutely love this time of year because the heat of summer is behind us (finally) and the outdoors just seem to come alive with color and opportunities for…drum roll please….fitness!
Many times we think of exercise as something we must do indoors, in a gym or on an exercise machine of some sort. It’s like some unwritten rule somewhere that this whole be healthy, exercise thing needs to be a miserable experience and something you must do rather than something you enjoy doing. You know what I have to say to that? Baloney!
October and November are the perfect months for taking your exercise outdoors because it’s no longer miserably hot, the leaves are changing colors and there’s just freshness in the air like no other time of the year. Let me tell you, some of my most productive days are those where I have walked outside before jumping into my workday. You think clearer, your attitude is better and you just have a better outlook because you know you have done something really great for yourself.
So, here are several ideas that will help you take your exercise outdoors. Heck, most of these will be so much fun that I doubt you will even think of them as exercise at all! Oh, and get the whole family involved. If you have kiddos that are a little too into video games and TV then these are perfect for getting them off the couch and disguising exercise with something fun. As I always say, “a family that plays together stays together”.
1) Mesker Park Zoo- a few hours of walking up and down all those hills is a great way to burn some major calories, not to mention, tone your tush. Bob’s Gym even offers a group walking class at the Zoo every Wednesday at 9am.
2) Take a Saturday and head out to Land Between the Lakes- just 2 hours south into Kentucky and you’ll experience one of the most beautiful and fun afternoons you could ask for. They offer endless hiking trails, canoeing, horseback riding and mountain biking trails. Throw the family and your bikes into the van and head off for a day full of fun family fitness. For more information and directs check out ww.lbl.org.
3) Take your walks outside to Wesselman Park or The State Hospital grounds. Don’t walk the same route everyday! You need to keep your body on its toes and mix it up with new scenery and terrain.
4) Take advantage of the many local walks and running events. Don’t worry - you don’t need to be a major athlete to take advantage of these fun-filled healthy events. Registration fees are usually around $15 and are usually collected to raise money for area charities and organizations. There are often health-related vendors, food, games and activities for the whole family. Check out The Greater Evansville Runners/Walkers Club at www.gerwc.com/ for upcoming events.
5) Make it a new habit to walk or bike outside a few times a week. Even if you are limited on time, take just 15 minutes to breathe in the cool air and the beautiful scenery. I guarantee you it will put you in a better mood and help you get fit and trim at the same time!