outside

Calling in Sick to Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Poll

Have You Ever Called in Sick to Spend Time Outside?

I don't know about you, but the weather where I live has been absolutely divine of late.
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I don't know about you, but the weather where I live has been absolutely divine of late. I can hear the sunshine calling my name and inviting me run, bike, hike, sail, kayak — anything to celebrate Spring. In a recent survey, completed oddly enough by Degree antiperspirant, 40 percent of the woman responded that they have called sick to work just to hang out in the great out-of-doors. I am not sure if that number seems high or low, so I wanted to conduct my own informal survey here on FitSugar. I am curious if you've desperately craved some vitamin D, aka the sunshine vitamin, that you have taken a mental health day to commune with Mother Nature?

Fitness Poll: Do You Prefer to Work Out Indoors or Outdoors?
Fitness

Do You Prefer to Work Out Indoors or Outdoors?

Now that the weather is slowly turning to Spring some of us may be hitting the great outdoors again for our workouts, while others may opt to keep it inside.
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Now that the weather is slowly turning to Spring some of us may be hitting the great outdoors again for our workouts, while others may opt to keep it inside. So which do you prefer?

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Where Do You Primarily Work Out?
Fitness

Where Do You Primarily Work Out?

I'm grateful that there are so many different ways you can exercise your body.
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I'm grateful that there are so many different ways you can exercise your body. We can run outside, use cardio machines, take dance classes, lift weights, learn Kung Fu, and use fitness DVDs. With all those options I was wondering, where do you usually exercise?

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Taking it To the Streets After Running On a Treadmill
Running

Taking it To the Streets After Running On a Treadmill

It is that time of year when folks move their workouts outside since the weather is so dang nice.
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It is that time of year when folks move their workouts outside since the weather is so dang nice. If you have been running indoors on a treadmilll and are looking to move your runs outside there are a few things to take into consideration.

  • The surface of the treadmill is more forgiving to your joints so suddenly shifting all your runs outside can be jarring to your ankles, knees and hips. Try just taking one run outside per week for 2 or 3 weeks. Then add one run outside every 2 weeks. If you are training for a road race it is really important to start planning ahead and hitting the streets.
  • Running outside will have to run against wind resistance and the elements, which in the summer means heat, which requires more energy to run at the same speed as on a treadmill.
  • Keeping your pace outside might feel really different since stride for stride, running on the road requires more energy output to propel your body forward since on a treadmill, you are keeping up with the treadmill as it moves under your feet. Plus, on a treadmill the machine keeps you running at a certain pace and now you will have to monitor your own pace. I suggest using a heart rate monitor to help you keep track of your heart rate and time.
  • The smooth, flat surface of a treadmill is very predictable. Running on roads or trails trains your neuromuscular system to deal with unpredictable terrain like hills, banked surfaces, trails and uneven surfaces. Chances are high you will be looking down much more when running outside, especially if you are trail running.

Have fun taking your running to the streets. Remember, when running outside you need to be more aware of your surroundings since people, dogs, bikes and cars might be out on the road or trail too.

Asthma and Winter Don't Mix
Running

Asthma and Winter Don't Mix

There's nothing fun about having asthma.
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There's nothing fun about having asthma. Your chest gets tight, you can't catch a good breath, you have coughing attacks and you have to pump yourself silly with steroid inhalers and pills just so you can breathe.

But if you have asthma that's triggered by allergies, you may find that getting your heart rate up helps - all that huffing and puffing gets the mucus out of your lungs. Going for a run or bike ride outside does wonders because you're breathing in all that fresh air.

But now that it's winter, inhaling that freezing cold air is sure to throw you into an attack.

You may need to change up your routine and join a gym. Use the treadmill, elliptical or other cardio machines. Or check out a spinning class.

If the stagnant air at the stinky gym doesn't work for you, winter's a great opportunity to try hot yoga. The deep breathing and stretching will do wonders for your lungs. Plus you'll get to stretch out all those tight muscles you built up.

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