Well everybody’s got reasons why we just can’t seem to get to the gym, well I have just the thing to help motivate you. I have 5 good reasons why you can go out doors to exercise.
5. Fresh Air- Every single one of the human body's 100 trillion cells must receive a constant supply of oxygen. Without air, humans will die in three minutes. The heart circulates blood to the lungs, where it exchanges carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen. And where's the best place to get fresh oxygen? Outdoors!
Fresh air actually improves the brain's functioning. It also increases the brain's production of serotonin, which helps you sleep more soundly, and instills a sense of happiness and well-being.
4. Sunshine- The is more to the sun than to just give light and heat. Studies by people way smarter than I have determined that there are a host of medical reasons why we need the sun. Sunshine is a remarkable antiseptic. Very lightly tanned skin resists germs and infection better than completely un-tanned skin does. But that doesn't mean you should forego the sunscreen. And remember not to bake yourself in the sun for hours on end.
Sunshine keeps you healthy on the inside, too. It increases the number of white blood cells, which boosts immune system strength. Believe it or not, sunlight also converts your body's bad cholesterol into vitamin D. Sunshine is so powerful that it takes a potentially harmful substance and transforms it into something your body needs this in turn, increases calcium absorption.
Sunlight also increases the brain's production of endorphins, which, like serotonin, provide a sense of well-being and help prevent depression. Just going for a 30-minute walk when the sun is highest in the sky, even if it's cloudy, will help. This will help prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder in winter, which affects one and a half million people in the United States alone. This is the whole reason behind the idea to fortify milk with vitamin D. Sunlight also stimulates thyroid function, which boosts metabolism and promotes weight loss. Have you ever noticed that your appetite is smaller in summer?
Exposure to natural light also boosts melatonin production at night, which improves sleep. Natural light also aids in digestion and improves liver function, which encourages waste elimination. Natural light even improves circulation, lowers heart rate, and regulates blood pressure and blood sugar.
3. It’s Easy to Work Into Your Dailey Routine- Lets face it, whether you’re 15 or 50, life today is hectic so exercise should be enjoyed daily, and you should take advantage of the easiest means to make it an everyday part of your life. If you belong to a gym, you have to make a special effort to get there. In other words, you have to get in the car and drive somewhere. Plus, you have to work it into your busy schedule.
The drive itself could take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes--and that's just one way. So that means you're trying to cram another 20 to 60 minutes of drive time into your day. Just walking out your door at home on the other hand, takes far less effort and time.
2. It’s Free- Hey, times are still tough and some of us are still keeping the belt tight! Exercising outdoors doesn't cost one thin dime! You don't have to pay any expensive gym fees. You don't have to buy extra gas to drive there. You don't have to purchase the latest workout fashions to make yourself presentable to everyone else at the gym. Just throw on that ratty t-shirt and go for it.
1. It’s Fun- That’s right, it may be a little anti-climatic, but it’s the truth! Let's face it: gym equipment makes for some pretty monotonous and boring exercise routines. But if you exercise outdoors, it's vastly more fun! The possibilities are virtually endless: bicycling, walking, kayaking, hiking, volleyball, basketball, soccer, kickball, hockey, baseball and football. You could even get a yoga mat and do yoga on your backyard deck!
Environmental psychologists at the University of Michigan found in a 2004 survey that people who walk outdoors are likely to walk for longer periods of time if their route includes trees, plants or bodies of water; they also benefit from mental revitalization.
So have fun getting your game on...or just enjoy a brisk walk to kick things off... in the great outdoors!
There you have it, 5 good reason to get up and get out, but then again maybe I forgot to mention the most important reason. The look on peoples faces when you post the healthier pictures online.
