5 Rules to Exercising Outdoors

Nothing beats working out outdoors. Natural light, grass, fresh air. It can all be an exhilarating experience. Here are 5 rules to outdoor training that will keep you outdoors longer and make your exercise routine a more enjoyable experience. 1. Proper training shoes- When working out outdoors, make sure you have the right shoes for the activity you are doing. Walking shoes are good for walking, but not as good for running or cross training. They normally have a little more cushion on the bottom making them heavier. The instep of a walking shoe is also a little less pronounced than a running or cross training shoe. Opt for a cross training shoe if you are unsure of what activity you may be doing outdoors. These have good ankle support and are good for a majority of outdoor activities. 2. Weather- A beautiful day can attract a lot of people outdoors, but sometimes it can be too hot or too cold for even the hardest of hardcore people to exercise outdoors. There is no magical temperature or limit for your exercise. You know your body best. What you should know, is that you must dress for the occasion. If it is cold outside layer to keep your body warm. The most danger is when it is cold and windy and or rainy. The wind can take the heat away from your body faster than you can generate it. When it is hot, dress appropriately and stay hydrated. 3. No pain no gain- This is not always true. There is a difference between training through soreness and working out till the point of injury. The general rule is that if you have an ache or soreness that lasts more than 5 days, you should see a doctor. Runners should be especially wary of joints (e.g. your ankles or knees) that are consistently sore or achy because that could mean something more serious than just a cramp or a strain. 4. Rest- The key to staying in shape is to let your body recover. Athletes and everyday Joes alike need to let their bodies rest. If you are working out vigorously 7 days a week that might be too much for your body to handle for the long haul. Think about switching up your routine. Try a Pilates class or maybe yoga. You can even try just taking a day off just to get your energy levels back up and to let the creativity in your workouts return. 5. Eat-So many people have tried and eventually failed with fad diets where you don’t eat this or you don’t eat that. You only eat one thing all day and it helps you to get in great shape. Well the only diet is really no diet at all. You may remember that food pyramid that you got in third grade that had the grains, dairy, fruits/vegetables, meat/beans and oils. This is the only way to get into and stay in shape by giving the body what it needs to work efficiently and turn fats into energy.