The gym has its place, but once the sun starts shining, we're all about taking advantage of the outdoors! And while it's one thing to lace up your running shoes and hit the road, it's another to move all elements of your workout to the great outdoors. But no matter if you're running, cycling, or building muscle, we've got some fun ideas for taking your workout outside. Read on to see what they are!
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I love going to the gym. Planning a gym schedule each week not only makes me more apt to stick to my workout routine, but it also encourages me to focus on muscle-building exercises — which is my weakness, since I love to run outside but never want to strength-train at home.
Before I signed up for my latest gym, however, I found every excuse to skip the trek to my former club. It was more than a mile away and not convenient to any public transit, so the walk-workout-walk necessity made for a big time commitment.
Now that my new gym is mere blocks from my office, it's easy to squeeze in a short lunchtime workout or stop by after work. While I like the better layout and amenities (especially the classes!) of my new gym over my former one, its convenient location is the most important aspect of staying committed to my workouts. What's yours?
You've suited up and trekked your way to the gym, so why stop there? Make sure you don't waste time at the gym with these tips that'll keep you sweating and burning calories.
Intervals, intervals, intervals: One of the best ways to push your endurance and strength to your limits is to do high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. Not only does doing intervals burn more calories, but HIIT helps you increase your endurance as well burn belly fat — all in a shorter amount of time.
Save the gossip. A workout buddy is great for motivating you to get to the gym, but once you both are there, don't waste your time by making the hour more about catching up than burning calories. Instead, save the gossip for your post-workout refuel. Nothing like the promise of a good long chat to motivate you to finish your workout fast.
Keep reading for more ways to increase your intensity at the gym.
There's nothing worse than heating up at the gym only to be met by frosty cold temps outside when you're done. If you're not making a pit stop in the locker room to get street-ready, you're met with a problem: you're too hot and sweaty to brave the cold outdoor air without feeling uncomfortable. If you're skipping the shower at the gym, here are two simple reminders to make sure your next trek outdoors post-workout isn't uncomfortable and cold.
Wait it out: Don't just hop off the treadmill and grab your stuff. When you're exercising regularly, it can take several minutes for your heart rate to go back down from peak to resting rate (the normal heart rate recovery rate is a decrease of 15-20 beats per minute) so if you go outside too soon, you'll still be pumped up from your workout. Use the time to cool down properly with post-workout stretches and foam rolling instead.
Always choose moisture-wicking: I've worked out in any old T-shirt and I've worked out in gear designed for working out, and there's definitely a difference. To keep yourself from being uncomfortably soggy under those Winter clothes, use performance wear designed to wick away sweat and keep you dry. And always bring a similarly sweat-wicking cover-up to layer under your coat before you head outside for even more protection. Here are some lightweight cover-ups that would work well under your puffy outerwear.
How do you brave Winter weather after sweating it out at the gym?
I tried to like spin class, but after a few too many classes with the instructor yelling for us to "Push harder!" over already too-loud music, I decided I wasn't a fan. While I enjoy taking exercise classes or enlisting the help of a personal trainer to keep me motivated (not to mention to make me finish an exercise when I think I just can't do it), I gravitate more toward instructors who firmly encourage without veering into drill sergeant territory.
I may not be signing up for a boot camp any time soon, but many people like the tough love they get from their no-excuses fitness instructors. What's your favorite style?
You may be driven indoors if the Summer heat makes your workouts unbearable. Since not everyone is a fan of the gym, here are some solutions to your gym gripes.
Waiting for equipment because the gym is too crowded
Find out when your gym is least busy, and if your schedule allows for it, go during those off times like 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. If you're locked into going before or after work when everyone else seems to hit the gym, give less popular equipment a try. Or, do some strength training moves while you wait.
High membership prices
Gyms sometimes offer deals if you join with a friend or sign up for a certain amount of time. If there aren't any deals to be had, choose a gym that offers exactly what you use, so you're not paying for amenities that you don't need like a sauna or pool.
Annoying people
Whether they're gabbing on their cell phone or trying to flirt with you while you do your reps, annoying people will always be at your gym — it's how you deal with them that will affect your workout. You could always secretly complain to the staff, especially if there are rules about cell phones. Or do what I do, which is put on my headphones, focus on my workout, and ignore everyone else.
Continue reading for other ways to deal with why you hate the gym.
Sunny days are meant for outdoor activity, so it's no wonder that fitness fans come out in full force when the weather warms up. But between bugs, humidity, and searing sun, is an outdoor cardio session too much to take when the heat strikes?
While San Francisco's Summer may not be typical (it's been cold and rainy here), even on a cool, sunny day I love to run outdoors. But while there's nothing like a run in the park during a nice day, I still enjoy the convenience of working out in a gym; mine is just a few blocks away from work, so it's hard for me to justify skipping out on a workout, especially after I've lugged my gym bag with me during my commute.
Do you still work out in a gym during the sunny months, or do you shun the indoors to take advantage of the season?
At my first session with my trainer at Crunch gym, he led me through a short session doing planks using the TRX suspension system. After holding for a few seconds, it was clear: my core needed a lot of work. Just that small workout showed me how much I need to strengthen and build my muscles; I was trembling and sweating while my trainer counted down.
While the Summer months can have you wanting to tone every inch of your body in order to look your best in a bikini, increasing your strength is important for more than just looks. A strong core, for example, helps you in everything from better posture to better balance, and strength training in general helps increase bone density, reduce pain, and reduce the risk of injury.
Tell me: do you like to focus on a certain area when you strength train?
Lately, I've been going to the gym on my lunchbreak, which means less time to fuss on my beauty routine once my workout is over. And while I don't want to be gone from my desk for too long, I also don't want to show up back at the office a sweaty red-faced mess. If this sounds familiar, I've got a quick beauty routine that will have you walking out of the gym looking fresh-faced with a natural glow — no one will tell that you were a hot, sweaty mess moments earlier!
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