Kickstart Your Spring Exercise Program With These Tips

After hibernating all winter, it can be difficult to find the motivation to get back to the gym. Bathing suit season is fast approaching, however, and it’s time to set your spring exercise plan in motion. These simple tips can help you get off the couch and onto the treadmill.

  1. Pace yourself. If you’ve relaxed your exercise routine all winter, it’s important to start slowly once you get back at it. Take a few slow jogs or do some gentle yoga classes to get your body ready for exercise.
  2. Schedule your yearly check-up. If you usually visit the doctor once per year, try to schedule your appointment in the springtime. This will ensure that you’re healthy enough for exercise.
  3. Invest in comfortable workout gear. Pack away the insulated jackets and warm running pants and purchase workout clothing made of lightweight, breathable fabrics instead. A waterproof rain coat is also a good idea if you run outside because you can expect a few spring showers.
  4. Get outdoors. If you normally work out at a gym, opt to get your cardio in outside when the weather is nicer. Spending time outdoors is a great incentive to work out, and mixing things up always makes you feel more motivated to exercise.
  5. Have fun! Whether you work out with a friend or join a community soccer league, warm weather offers lots of options for making your workouts more fun.

10 Spring Fitness Tips [She Knows]
Spring Back into Your Exercise Program [WebMD]

Three Cycling Apps for Smartphones

There’s an app for just about everything, and now there are even apps to help better your bike rides. These cycling apps will help you to plan routes, track your miles, burn more calories and stay on course, all from your mobile device.

Map My Ride
Created for the iPhone, Map My Ride is an all-inclusive cycling app for both recreational cyclists and those riding for exercise.  This simple app uses GPS and an interactive map to plan your route and then track your speed and distance throughout your ride. After you’ve arrived at your destination, Map My Ride will also provide charts detailing your ride summary and a calculation of your calories burned.

Strava Cycling
Strava Cycling is a simple, no-nonsense app for cyclists who want the basic features without any of the bells and whistles. This app has an accurate map for planning your route and following along as you ride, and it even calculates miles ridden and feet climbed as you go. Strava also offers ways to connect with friends and even join virtual clubs for sharing tips and support on every ride.

B-icycle
With apps for Android, iPhone and Windows operating systems, B-icycle is a widely-used cycling app with a variety of helpful features. It boasts a stylish interface, accurate GPS, statistics like speed and calories burned, and it even allows you to operate your iPod and phone features without closing the app.

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