If you’re one of the 98 percent of people who fell off the New Year’s resolutions wagon months ago, we have good news for you!! Experts say summer is the ideal time to set fitness goals. It’s the combination of warmer weather, longer days, and more options for staying active. This is a potent recipe for sticking to your resolutions.
What to do during Summer?
Take It Outside
Summer opens up a wide range of outdoor workout possibilities—from running, hiking, kayaking to waterskiing. Together with the obvious benefits, a recent study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that exercising can boost your immune system, relieve stress and elevate your energy levels.
Plus, being outdoors raises your level of vitamin D—which improves your heart health, promotes healthy bone growth and can boost your mood. Mixing up your workout will keep you motivated and less likely to become bored or quit.
Keep Your Options Open
There will be times when exercising outside may not be an option—when it’s too hot or too dark. That’s not an excuse for missing a workout. Find places to exercise inside. For example, power walk in an indoor mall, jump rope, stair step or even dancing. These are some great alternatives if you do not have at-home exercise equipment,
The fewer barriers there are, the more likely you are to stick with your fitness goals. Even if you hop on your treadmill to walk while watching your favorite TV show, you are burning more calories than if you were sitting on the couch—or doing nothing at all.
Get Fit As A Family
As the saying goes, the family that plays together stays together, and summer is the perfect time to explore new activities. Geocaching treasure hunts, guided night hikes, and underwater hockey are all exciting alternatives to letting the kids spend hours glued to their electronic devices.
Another way to keep your family moving is with Fitness Video Games for kids that adults can also participate.
The best fitness video games for kids are ones that are fun to play and get the heart pumping at the same time! Some good suggestions are ones that offer fun and challenging balance games. Everyone will be so focused on getting the highest score. They won’t realize they’ve been exercising. Use your favorite streaming player to broadcast onto the TV screen or tablet so you can take it outside.
The more your kids enjoy the activity, whether it be playing sports or playing exercise video games, the easier it will be to make exercise a regular part of their daily routine. Furthermore, the less exercise feels like work and the more it feels like play may be all the motivation your kids need to get up and get moving!