Go Play Outside!

Remember when our kids were little and we would say, “Go play outside and get some fresh air?”  Maybe we should take that advice for ourselves.  The weather is finally getting nice (at least in Illinois) so last weekend I set the tone for my April to October workout routine:  Play Outside.  April to October gives us 7 months that we can make nature our health club.  My favorites - biking, hiking, and golf (walk, don’t ride).  There are dozens of outdoor activities that will get you moving, from strolling through the Farmers Market to gardening, or just go to a beautiful nature trail and bike or hike.  Saturday I journeyed a 4 mile hike on one of the many nearby forest preserve trails and Sunday the bike came out of the garage for a 20 mile ride.  

There are many factors that make playing outside a much better workout than sitting on a stationary bike or walking on an elliptical inside of a gym:  change in terrain, environmental differences such as wind and temperature, and the mere fact that we are doing ALL of the work instead of being helped by a machine.   Add to that these benefits:  better mental health, breathing in fresh air, and soaking up some Vitamin D.  My “Play Outside” mantra might sound like a broken record but I cannot stress enough how valuable it is.  This is not to say we should completely abandon the health club.  It’s a great idea to mix in some instructor-led classes, like yoga, pilates, or CrossFit, but when the weather is nice, we should try and get outside as much as we can.    

For the next 8 weeks, I will be spending my days with grandson Dominic while his Mom and Dad are working.  So lucky to have the opportunity to spend time with the little man, but it required a change in my activity schedule.  Easy fix - this is a great time to change my routine from going to the health club in the morning to biking and hiking in the evening.  I also found some yoga and pilates classes that fit into my new schedule.  For grandparents who spend days with grandkids, take the kiddos outside with you.  They love going for walks with grandparents and the fresh air/Vitamin D is good for them too!  It seems like more and more people are taking their workouts outdoors.  Many instructor-led classes are meeting outside between May and October.  Use google or contact your local park district to find outdoor instructor-led fitness classes, like the Stroller Strides class my daughter found for new moms.           

What are you going to do with your 168 hours this week?  Whether you're working or retired, young or 50+, devote some hours to playing outside.