Spring Into Shape With These Outdoor Exercise Tips

The dreary winter cold can leave you in a bit of an exercise rut, but the springtime sun makes everyone more motivated to get outdoors and get in shape. These exercise tips will help you get in your best shape ever—all while experiencing the great outdoors.

Buddy up.
There are a number of different reasons why working out with another person is helpful, but the number one reason is because it’s more fun! You’ll look forward to working out much more if you have a friend by your side, and being outdoors will be that much more motivation.

Improve your gear.
It’s beneficial to have the proper shoes and workout attire, especially when you’re exercising outdoors. Warm thermal shirts are important for the days when it’s not quite springtime weather, and breezy, breathable fabrics help once the temperature reaches its full potential. Having the proper outdoor running shoes can also prevent injuries and make you feel more comfortable on the pavement.

Experiment with exercises you haven’t tried before.
You probably haven’t jumped rope since gym class, but this fun and simple outdoor activity burns up to 208 calories in just 20 minutes. Swimming is another fun outdoor activity, and starting slow with a few leisurely laps makes it much less intimidating.

Spring Training Fitness Tips [Shape]
Great Spring Exercise Ideas [Fitness.com]

3 Health Benefits of Strength Training Exercises

Even if you don’t plan on bulking up or competing in weight lifting competitions any time soon, strength training is a crucial part of any exercise regimen. Here are three great reasons to incorporate weight training into your workouts.

  1. It promotes strong bones. Weakening bones is a concern that all people have to face as they age. The stress that strength training puts on your bones increases their density and prevents osteoporosis, keeping you strong and healthy as years pass.
  2. It helps to control your weight. While you might relate weight loss with intense cardiovascular workouts, strength training is just as important if you want to lose weight. Gaining muscle increases your metabolism and causes your body to burn calories more efficiently.
  3. It gives you more energy. Like all workouts, strength training increases your stamina and helps you to stay alert and focused. After a few weeks of regular weight lifting or body weight exercises, you’ll notice that you feel more energized throughout the day. Some scientific studies even show that years of regular strength training exercises help to sharpen your focus and keep your mind attentive as you age.

Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier [Mayo Clinic]
7 Reasons to Add Strength Training to Your Workout Routine [Everyday Health]
Benefits of Strength Training [Body Building]

Find Hiking Trails Near You With These Online Resources

You usually don’t associate browsing the web with hiking outdoors, but these handy websites aim to change that. There are a number of online resources that can help outdoor adventure-seekers to find hiking trails in any city, and they provide a variety of other hiking tips as well. Here are two of the best websites for finding the closest hiking trails in your area.

Trails.com
Trails.com offers a full list of hikes that corresponds with an interactive map of the United States. Simply click on your state (or a state you’re visiting) on the map and the website will bring up a list of trails for hikers of all skill levels. The list is sorted by the most popular trails in the state, trails with recent reviews, and even trails with other outdoor activities such as biking, fishing, waterfalls, or skiing.

Trail Link
Trail Link is a bit savvier than your usual hiking website, with a simple search feature that allows avid hikers to locate trails by zip code, trail name, state, or keyword. Once you enter the search terms, a full, interactive map appears with markers for each trail in the area, as well as high-quality photos submitted by real users. You’ll even find detailed information about each trail, including the terrain, length and difficulty level to make your decision easier.

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