SWIMMING

A day at the pool can be highly beneficial when your time spent there is wisely used. By this I mean don’t just go and kick back, down cocktails and dip your toes in the water. No. You should have a workout plan in mind. The water creates resistance to your movements so use it to your advantage.

One way to get in a good workout is to swim as many back and forth laps as your body allows. Then take a 5 minute break and repeat. Before you leave the pool be sure to get in another round laps until you can’t do any more. This will surely build muscle and endurance.

PUSH UPS AND SIT UPS

Lets get back to the basics. Push ups and sit ups are by far the most underrated form of working out. Best of all you can perform these exercises anywhere. A solid 30 minute workout combining these two exercises can quickly build upper body muscles and tighten your abs. To make push ups and sit ups comfortable to you, consider using rotating push up bars and a good anti-tear yoga mat (at least 1″ in thickness). For a greater range of motion and versatility, consider elevated push up bars to maximize your workout.

HIKING

Out of all the workouts in this article, hiking is by far my favorite. There’s nothing like connecting with nature and feeding your spirit with the beauty of the creator. For starters, hiking rejuvenates the mind and vanishes stress. If you love nature like I do, I’m sure you can relate.

Finding hiking trails in your town is simple. State parks are a great source for finding beautiful hiking trails. I prefer hiking trails with a variety in landscapes to get more out of the workout. Hiking also allows you to exercise and breathe fresh air. For a more rewarding hiking workout, bring additional accessories along (fishing gear, food, water, backpack, etc). This will maximize the workout. This is a time where extra baggage is a good thing. Try to get out there once or twice a week and then increase the distance as your body becomes stronger.

To prevent injuries and other setbacks, it is important that you have the proper gear. First I would recommend a comfortable pair of waterproof hiking boots and a Insulated Hydration Backpack to carry water, a small first aid kit, waterproof binoculars, etc. I’m not saying that hiking is dangerous but being prepared can help you or someone else in need. Like I said before, the extra baggage maximizes your workout.

BICYCLING

Its time to knock the dust off of that old mountain bike in the garage and get out there! Riding your bike is a great way to get your workout on. For casual riders, you can go to places where others walk for exercise. This could be a local track in your town, around your neighborhood, at the park or around a lake. For more extreme cyclist I would suggest hiking trails and distance rides through your city streets. This would include marathon cyclists, BMX bikers, etc.

Always wear the right protective gear to help avoid injuries (whether you are a casual cyclist or extreme cyclist). A versatile mountain bike is the preferred bike for most casual riders.

YARD WORK

Yard work is be a great source for exercise. Especially when you make it an all day affair. When you work in the yard you are constantly squatting, reaching, twisting, pushing, pulling, walking, raking, digging and more. Something as simple as trimming hedges or carrying around a weed whacker has its benefits. Most of us don’t think of yard work as an effective form of exercise. Maybe that’s because we dread doing it. When you start to key in on benefits of yard work, you’ll never look at it the same way.

It takes me around 4 hours to do complete yard maintenance. Because most yard work is done in the heat of Summer, it is an excellent way to sweat it out. Since you only do yard work in one to two weeks periods, it is important that you do other forms of exercises in between.

WALKING

It’s no secret that walking can benefit us in a number of ways. This entry is mostly for our older readers who aren’t as active as the youngsters. Walking increases the heart rate, When you increase the heart rate, you are fighting against diabetes and heart disease. Whether you do your walking on a treadmill or the great outdoors, it is a great introduction to kick off your newly formed fitness program.

There are advantages of walking outside. The first advantage is breathing fresh air. You also are getting vitamin D from the sun. Always be aware of your surroundings when you are walking. A good quality water resistant fanny pack can provide all the storage you need for the necessities to keep you safe and connected. You can never predict the threat of running into an angry dog or rabid animal attack. Many postal delivery workers use dog repellent spray for their safety.

KAYAKING / PADDLE BOARDING

If you enjoy being around the water like I do, you will find that canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding can offer many benefits to your fitness program while having lots of fun. There is something very special about working out in the great outdoors.

There are places that will rent these water crafts to you in 1-4 hour blocks at a very affordable prices. State parks lead the pack in offering these services. I like to fish so kayaking fits my personality, A portable peddling kayak allows you to get a great workout by peddling around the lake looking for those hot spots for fish. A durable Paddle Boarding Kit is also a popular way to get exercise and have a great time doing so.

FISHING

Fishing can be both rewarding and a fine way to get in some exercise. Some might view fishing as sitting for hours and waiting on the fish to bite. That might be true but to a certain extent. But if you really get into the sport and learn the ends and outs of fishing, you will learn very quickly that you will need more than just a fishing pole and a lure on the end of your string. You will need adequate equipment for the adventure. For instance, when I go fishing, I will need at least 2 fishing rods, a cooler with ice for fish and water to drink and a tackle box full of lures, string, hooks, etc.

When you fish off the bank (which I do a lot), skilled fishermen know that the number one thing to do is locate fish. That means you are constantly changing locations to find fish. This means you are constantly moving all of your gear from spot to spot. If the lake you are fishing has different variances in the terrain, you will be carrying gear up and down hills a lot. It may not seem like it at the time you are fishing but when it’s time to leave, you will definitely feel it.

If you’re lucky, you might get to battle a monster fish for an hour or more before you finally land it. We call this a fitness bonus!

SKATING

Whether you are roller skating, ice skating, skiing or skateboarding, these fun filled activities offer some cool health benefits. For starters, they can enhance your balance as well and activate muscles you didn’t know you had. The act of balancing itself causes muscle groups to coordinate and pay attention.

These activities increases the heart rate and burn fat. Skating is easy on your joints, improves endurance, a superb mood booster and it’s also a social activity. Rollerskating is basically equivalent to walking and improves leg strength. Skating over time is a great way to lose weight as well. It makes sense to go skating at least once a week (depending on how much you enjoy it). For safety measures I suggest investing in some decent skating protective gear. With that being said, get out there and get active!