Whether you want to shed some unwanted weight or simply tighten and tone your body, there are many workouts that will help you achieve your goal. One of the best ways to cut some pounds is to exercise outdoors, where there’s plenty of room to jump, sprint and explore your inner athlete. Training outdoors also provides a change of scenery from a sweaty, bustling gym, not to mention a far more challenging terrain. So, take your exercise routine outside and learn how to maximize your workouts with these simple tips:
Include a jump rope in your workout
Often considered a toy simply made for entertaining children, jumping rope is one of the most underrated workouts for coordination and athleticism. But as any professional boxer will tell you, it is the perfect warm-up for any type of workout, especially helpful for improving coordination and sweating off the excess pounds. So, start your outdoor exercise off by doing 10 reps of each type of jump, without resting between them. Then, sprint for five seconds, turn around, and sprint back again, and don’t forget to vary the types of jumps every time you return to the rope, from basic two-foot jumps and high-knee jumps to alternating and same foot single-leg jumps.
Walk whenever you can
Even though it’s often overlooked, walking is one of the simplest and best forms of exercise you can do almost anywhere, from your neighborhood to your vacation destination, or as active transportation from home to work and back again. Even when the temperatures get colder, you can use puffer jackets for walks that will keep you warm and safe from harsh weather conditions, while regulating your body temperature and helping you get through your walking session, no matter the season. If you want to get even more benefits, add poles to power up your walking workouts and exercise 90% of the muscles in your body, then finish off the walk with a few minutes of upper strength training with a set of dumbbells, kettlebells, or a resistance band.
Take it a step further
If you are a regular runner, you might want to maximize your workout by overloading your body. This typically occurs when a greater than normal stress is imposed on your body, forcing it to adapt to the new circumstances. For frequent runners, overloading the body can be done by increasing the speed, distance, training volume, or even adding resistance by using a parachute or a sled. These types of workouts will allow you to overload your running session in a unique and interesting way, helping you lose weight more quickly, build muscle mass, gain more speed, and increase your power and acceleration, all while providing a valuable shake-up to your normal exercise routine.
Give outdoor yoga a try
Although yoga has a bad reputation of being a very simple and light workout, it can be highly beneficial for any exercise routine, especially as a warm-up session. So, grab a towel or a yoga mat and unroll it on the grass, sand, deck, dock or your balcony. Start by doing a few simple beginner poses, then move through a sequence of easy poses while listening to the sounds of nature – birds, water, the wind blowing through the trees. It’s a great way to start your day off more centered, peaceful and tranquil. From improving your core strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility to having numerous health benefits, yoga can be a great form of exercise for any type of fitness buff, which is why everyone should give it a try.
No matter where you live, you’ve got endless options for training outdoors. So, take some time to enjoy these incredible workouts, and you’ll achieve all of your fitness goals in no time.
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