3 Fun Ways To Get Fit and Feel Better This Summer
Summer is a great time to jumpstart your fitness journey. Check out these three fun-filled ways to build exercise into your healthy lifestyle.
Special thanks to CrossFit Solid Orange for sponsoring this post.
This is one of the most anticipated summers in history. If you’re reading this, you have survived (are still surviving) a global pandemic that completely turned life upside down. In the midst of illness, gym closures, and cabin fever, a lot of us had setbacks with our health and fitness. Now that things are starting to turn around, it’ll be easy to get off track for a different reason – distractions! I want to go, do, and eat everything! Based on the stats going into this travel season, a lot of you do, too! Don’t worry, though, let me share three fun ways we can stay on track with our health and fitness goals this summer.
Workout At Home
As I shared in a previous post about my Noom experience, I made big strides in my weight loss and wellness journey over the last year. Since we couldn’t really go out and about, home workouts were my friend. The US Department of Health and Human Services physical fitness guidelines note that any activity is beneficial but recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics per week, plus some strength training two days per week. That may sound like a lot, but that’s roughly 21 minutes a day – and it can all be done at home.
Home workouts are very convenient, especially when you are pressed for time or weather-impacted. The weather here in the South is scorching this time of year, so I’m grateful to be able to work out in the comfort of my own air condition. When it’s storming, I can always have a rainy day dance party in my living room. I restarted my fitness routine with the plethora of videos available on YouTube (check my favorites here). If you are more traditional, good old calisthenics like squats, push-ups, and jumping jacks still get the job done. there are plenty of great workout plans on Pinterest to help you get started.
Take A Fitness Class
There is an African proverb that states, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Now that the world has reopened, most gyms have, too. Working out alone is convenient, but group fitness classes are great for accountability and motivation. There are now classes for a vast array of levels and interests. Yoga classes are great for strength and flexibility, while classes like Zumba, Barre, and step aerobics are great for cardio and full-body fitness. Body Pump is a great way to dip your toe into weight training (one of my favorite fitness activities), without the intimidation of going it alone. I also love to dance.
Picking up an active hobby like dancing is a great way to build community. I was in the best shape of my adult life when I picked up line dancing and Chicago-stye Stepping. The activity itself was so much fun, but the comradery forged some lifetime friendships. It’s easy to push through and show up when you miss people and they miss you.
If you want the best of both worlds, consider CrossFit. CrossFit combines intensive strength and conditioning workouts with an emphasis on sound nutrition and community. Many CrossFit participants enjoy the high octane, high support environment while achieving their personal fitness goals. If you’re interested in trying CrossFit gyms in Nashville, check out CrossFit Solid Orange, one of the highest-rated CrossFit gyms in the area. Crossfit Solid Orange offers a wide array of classes for all levels, open access gym time, private coaching, and more. With three membership packages, you are sure to find a path to reaching your fitness goals. Test drive a class today!
Explore the Great Outdoors – or the Neighborhood
My favorite way to get my exercise in is building it into other activities that are more casual or involve all sorts of stimuli. I could not wait for it to get warm enough outside to take advantage of the greenways and trails in my local parks. Something about the sights, sounds, and fresh air make the experience pleasant – and different every time. It also warms my heart to see elderly couples holding hands and kids blowing bubbles in the grass…but I digress. If you don’t have a park in your neighborhood, a day trip to the nearest state park is a fun option. There are over 10.000 state parks across the United States that offer walking trails for hiking, as well as adventures in biking, kayaking, swimming, and more.
Speaking of travel, building my exercise into my activities is paramount on the road. I do take advantage of having a gym in the building, but I also walk everywhere I can. One of the first things I do when I get to my hotel is look at Google maps to take a look at what restaurants, stores, and points of interest are within a mile of my hotel. My first walk of the trips is reconnaissance to survey how much of the area is walkable. I then try to build walks to these places into my itinerary. Not only does this keep me from driving my car a lot in an unfamiliar area, but it also allows me to observe so much more of the scenery than I would if I was zooming by on wheels.
Whether you are picking back where you left off or starting your fitness journey, let this be an encouragement that you can start wherever you are, however you are, today.
How do you plan on staying in healthy shape this summer? Share with us in the comments below!
