Outdoor Training: What You Don\u2019t Know (But Should)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When most people talk about getting in shape and getting fit they talk about things like going to the gym and lifting weights. What they don\u2019t talk about is getting outside. In fact, we\u2019ve practically been trained to think that getting outside is just playing and going to the gym is the only way to get a real workout. But that\u2019s absolutely not true. There\u2019s a whole lot about heading outside for your training that you probably don\u2019t know, but if you\u2019re really interested in getting fit, you need to know it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve spent your entire life (or at least the whole time that you\u2019ve been working on getting in shape) thinking that you had to go to the gym and lift weights all the time then you\u2019re definitely not doing yourself any favors. Isn\u2019t it time that you actually enjoyed the workout that you were doing? Isn\u2019t it time that you actually got to spend some time doing something new and different? That\u2019s what you\u2019re going to get with outdoor training and if you didn\u2019t know it before, you\u2019re going to know that and a whole lot more in no time at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Myths About Outdoor Training<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, let\u2019s take a look at a few of the myths that you\u2019ve probably heard in regards to outdoor training. These are things that people who just haven\u2019t tried it for themselves might try to convince you of, but you should know they\u2019re absolutely not true. After all, you could find your new favorite workout once you expand your horizons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s Harder to Run Outside than Inside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s actually no different for you to run outside or inside. You\u2019re going to have the same form, you\u2019re going to have the same impact on your joints depending what you run on and you\u2019re going to have the same effort expenditure. All of that means that it\u2019s really up to you what you feel most comfortable with and where you enjoy running. Of course, that\u2019s assuming that you really want to run in the first place, because you can get that outdoor workout doing a number of different things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll Have More Motivation Indoors<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s actually research that suggests that you\u2019ll have more motivation if you exercise outdoors. According to studies, people who spend time outdoors will feel more energy, less tension, less depression and higher satisfaction. Part of the reason for that is that just getting 20 minutes of fresh air will give you the same amount of energy as you would get drinking a cup of coffee. That means you\u2019re going to feel a whole lot better even just from going outside, never mind the actual effects of the exercise that you\u2019re getting at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You Can\u2019t Exercise in Cold Weather<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one is perpetrated because cold actually makes your muscles contract, which is true. The false part, however, is that this means you can\u2019t work out outdoors when it\u2019s cold. You absolutely can. You just need to make sure that you warm up a little bit beforehand. That means you need to do just a little bit of cardio that\u2019s going to warm your body and help to get your heart rate up just a little bit. This kind of workout makes sure you\u2019re ready when you head outside, but of course, you should still bundle up to keep your body heat in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walking isn\u2019t Doing Anything For You<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Actually, walking can do a lot for you and we\u2019re not talking about when you up the speed so you\u2019re technically jogging or even running. Just taking a walk, even a casual one, is actually proven to do some great things. For one, it can help improve your immune system, for another, it can help you experience less joint pain and even reduce your risk of breast cancer. What\u2019s really great is that just 15 minutes of walking can help you crave less sugar and that\u2019s definitely going to be a benefit, right? Who wouldn\u2019t like to kick their sugar habit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You Need Weight to Get a Workout<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t need to have weights, either free weights, bar weights or machines, in order to get a great workout in. Rather, you can get a great workout with just your body weight. That means if you want to get out there and do squats, planks or push-ups you can get an awesome workout. You can also get an awesome workout by running, walking, doing stairs or just about anything else that you do outside. Sure, weights can help you build up muscle, but they\u2019re not a necessity in order to get anything at all out of your workout. In fact just by changing the tempo of your body weight workouts and the time under tension can really drive insane muscle building gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working Out Outdoors Means Running<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working out outdoors can mean running, but it doesn\u2019t have to always. There are a number of different things that you could choose to do outside. It\u2019s extremely versatile and you\u2019re going to have more than enough opportunities to switch things up. Even if the only thing you want to do outdoors is running, you\u2019re going to have an endless supply of places that you can head out to in order to do it. Take a different road when you leave your house, drive to a park and then run, or do whatever you like. There\u2019s no end to the ways you can change it up. When your outdoors you way have more space to explore different and new movements than just running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Truths About Outdoor Training<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if those are the myths that you\u2019re commonly hearing, what\u2019s the actual truth? What should you know about working out or training outdoors that you don\u2019t already? There are actually a number of things that you should know and once you\u2019ve read through this list you\u2019re going to be lacing up your sneakers to head outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work Out Anywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the awesome part. If you\u2019re the type of person who lifts weights or goes to the gym to get a workout you\u2019re limited. You have to have those weights or a gym nearby in order to get a workout. So what do you do when you\u2019re on vacation? Or when you go to visit family? Sure, if you\u2019re going to be there a while you can get a temporary membership to a local gym or if you\u2019re staying at a hotel they may have something to work with, but you\u2019re going to be limited in what you can do. If you\u2019re an outdoor trainer, you don\u2019t have to worry, because all you need is some space outside and your own body. Same thing goes for any person who enjoys health and fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Save Your Money<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going to a gym or buying fancy equipment can be expensive at times. Not everyone has that kind of money just laying around or even if you do, you may not really want to spend it on a gym membership and get stuck with a contract commitment. When you workout outdoors you don\u2019t need that kind of financial commitment of any kind. You just need your own two feet (okay, and maybe some running shoes). From there, you\u2019re going to be good to go and ready to sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything is Training<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t actually even have to be \u2018working out\u2019 all the time to get the benefits of training outdoors. Think about the things that you do outdoors. You might be swimming, playing basketball, paddle boarding, playing with the kids or grandkids, intense yard work, or different things. All of those things are part of getting a good workout in but you don\u2019t even realize it because you\u2019re just having fun. What could be better than that? When you walk into a gym you definitely know you\u2019re working out. There\u2019s no mistaking it. When you head outside? You could be having fun and never even realize that you\u2019re doing anything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try Something New<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about your absolute favorite movie. Now imagine if you watched it twice in a row. You would probably still like it quite a bit, right? Maybe even for the third time or the fourth. But as you just keep watching the same show over and over again? You\u2019re going to get a little tired of it, right? That\u2019s the same thing when you\u2019re working out. You\u2019re going to get bored doing the same routine over and over again at the gym. When you\u2019re training outdoors you have so many options for where to go, what to do and how to do it. There\u2019s definitely no way to get bored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get Some Fresh Air<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research shows that fresh air and sunshine are extremely important to our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. If you spend all of your time cooped up inside you\u2019re going to start experiencing symptoms of depression. Getting some of the vitamins and nutrients that come from being outside is going to make you feel great. Plus, you\u2019re going to have the opportunity to stop and smell the roses (literally, if you want) be with nature and to make some new friends as well. Training outdoors is going to open up numerous different opportunities for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Improve Your Thoughts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like doing the same thing over and over again becomes just plain boring, it\u2019s actually affecting your mind. That boredom is going to cause your mind to slow down and it\u2019s going to affect the way that you think and achieve things even after you\u2019ve left that situation. By going outside you\u2019re actually stretching your mind and you\u2019re forcing your brain to pay attention to what\u2019s going on. Outdoors can throw unexpected challenges to you as well causing you to focus. After all, training outdoors causes you to be more aware of your surroundings and react faster to anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get Everyone Involved<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When was the last time you went to the gym and saw people that weren\u2019t just like you? Maybe a few of them were a little heavier than others. A few maybe were a little less toned up than others, but for the most part they\u2019re all the same type of people doing the same type of workouts. But what about everyone else who doesn\u2019t fit those standards? When you workout or train outdoors, you\u2019re opening it up to absolutely anyone. Whether you\u2019re smaller or larger than the traditional gym person or whether you have a disability that keeps you from doing certain types of workouts or you just plain don\u2019t like certain types of workouts, you can still get in a great training session outdoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Push Yourself<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re actually going to get more of a workout in most cases with an outdoor workout than an indoor one. Even if you\u2019re pushing yourself really hard at the gym there are some definite benefits when it comes to outdoor training. The main thing is that being outdoors means that nothing is for certain. When you round that next corner you might come up to a hill or a gravel path or a park. Your body never knows what\u2019s going to come up next and you\u2019re going to have to accommodate that. That means your body can\u2019t get complacent and your workout is always pushing you to the limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, outdoor training is really somewhat of a trend. More and more people are dropping the gym memberships and starting to venture outside to get their exercise and they\u2019re starting to feel even better about it. After all, there\u2019s something about getting outside, in the fresh air, that helps your workout not feel quite so much like a workout. So take some time to figure out what\u2019s going to work best for you and just what outdoor training and activities you want to try out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might be surprised at how much fun you\u2019re having and if you decide that you want to go back to working out at a gym a few times a week and working out outdoors a few times that\u2019s great too. Just know that you\u2019re definitely not going to be slacking off or missing out when you skip the gym for the outdoors. Whether you want to grab a friend to join you for a walk, get your yard ready for the summer, play some sports, or hit the trails, you\u2019re definitely going to have some great results from your outdoor training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By: Anthony Mendez<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instagram: @MendezFitness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Outdoor Training: What You Don\u2019t Know (But Should) When most people talk about getting in shape and getting fit they talk about things like going to the gym and lifting weights. What they don\u2019t talk about is getting outside. In fact, we\u2019ve practically been trained to think that getting outside is just playing and going…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1383,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"post-thumbnail":false,"goodlife-thumbnail":false,"goodlife-grid":false,"goodlife-latest":false,"goodlife-latestshort":false,"goodlife-vertical":false,"goodlife-gallery":false,"goodlife-galleryvertical":false,"goodlife-poststyle1":false,"goodlife-thumbnail-small":false,"goodlife-thumbnail-2x":false,"goodlife-thumbnail-mini":false,"goodlife-grid-small":false,"goodlife-grid-2x":false,"goodlife-grid-mini":false,"goodlife-latest-small":false,"goodlife-latest-2x":false,"goodlife-latest-mini":false,"goodlife-latestshort-small":false,"goodlife-latestshort-2x":false,"goodlife-latestshort-mini":false,"goodlife-vertical-small":false,"goodlife-vertical-2x":false,"goodlife-vertical-mini":false,"goodlife-gallery-small":false,"goodlife-gallery-2x":false,"goodlife-gallery-mini":false,"goodlife-galleryvertical-small":false,"goodlife-galleryvertical-2x":false,"goodlife-galleryvertical-mini":false,"goodlife-poststyle1-small":false,"goodlife-poststyle1-2x":false,"goodlife-poststyle1-mini":false,"profile_24":false,"profile_48":false,"profile_96":false,"profile_150":false,"profile_300":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Anthony Mendez","author_link":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/author\/anthony-mendez\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Outdoor Training: What You Don\u2019t Know (But Should) When most people talk about getting in shape and getting fit they talk about things like going to the gym and lifting weights. What they don\u2019t talk about is getting outside. In fact, we\u2019ve practically been trained to think that getting outside is just playing and going…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18576"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1383"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18576\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futuresharks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}