Let's take this outside.
- Admin
- Apr 17, 2017
- 3 min read
Happy Monday!!
As I sit here in my office, sore as ever, listening to the rain wash away the spring pollen, I reflect on the awesome weekend my husband and I had in a neighboring town. See, we were asked to be part of a photoshoot promoting the small lake town. We were to be the young, fit, adventurous couple. How this opportunity came to us was bizarre, but when we were asked, I jumped at the idea! YES! We were both raised in the country and taught to enjoy the great outdoors in many ways. We LOVE being outside, and doing all sorts of interesting new things. We have hiked many hills, and mountains. We have kayaked, canoed, mountain biked, and ran numerous rivers and trails. And when our son entered the picture we just strapped his tiny hinny to our back and kept on going. So, of course we would say yes.
As the photo shoot progressed throughout the two days, something smacked me in the face. I realized just how much we have gotten away from taking fitness outside.
Do not get me wrong, I love and cherish my gym. They are a family made up of interesting dynamics, all carrying in burdens and working them away before they walk back to their world. Numerous goals, and walks of life, but most are there to improve their well-being. I LOVE increasing my strength and physical ability, easily measured by what I did a few weeks ago and what I did today. The gym is a wonderful place to be. Yet, we make so many excuses as to why we cannot exercise. Consisting of anything from I cannot afford a gym, I do not have time to drive to the gym, I have kids, to whatever the words coming out of your mouth as your excuse.
My point is, we have gotten so far away from the original gym, the original playground, the original place to push your limits, the outside. See, I work out three to five days per week (depending on the week), training varying parts of my body. Cardio and lifting, mixed each time. And friends, a day and half of being outside... I AM SO SORE!! Hiking, biking, running, golfing, tennis, and kayaking have completely trashed my muscles in varying areas.
See, I forgot. I forgot fitness does not have to be defined by a certain number of sets and reps. It does not have to be defined by dumbbells and barbells or minutes passed. It can, instead, be defined by the views obtained, the foot steps taken, and the adventures experienced.
Now, I will say, the dumbbells, barbells, and treadmills have allowed us to maintain our fitness level to accomplish such beauty in nature, since we do not have time every day to go gallivanting around, unfortunately. HA! But, when the chance arises to take it outside, jump. If all the time you have is a walk around your block, find the beauty and adventure in your neighborhood. If walking is not hard enough, add a backpack with weight, even if it is just water as your added pounds, or in my case a toddler in a stroller/pack. If not hard enough, run. Push-ups, dips, squats, and even burpees can be done anywhere, and even with children. Do what you can, when you can, and find beauty. It is out there, waiting. It does not have to be a set time, or a set way, it just needs to be done.
So… get it done. Stop making the excuse.
Push yourself, if it is too easy, push harder.
I ask you, what is stopping you from creating fitness in the original gym?
Once the photos are available from the photographers, I hope to share the beauty with my readers, along with a wonderful segment covering the small lake town we were promoting!
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