Why Working Out Outside Is Often A Good Idea

Only about 20 percent of American adults get the recommended amounts of exercise each week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This lack of activity is directly responsible for the growing obesity epidemic, experts say.  What can we do to combat it?

There’s a reason most gym memberships go unused: working out is hard work! Other than body builders and fitness freaks, few people enjoy it. They view it as a chore; something that must be done when they can’t stand the sight of themselves in the bathroom mirror. One easy way to make exercise more appealing is to take it out of the gym and put it in an outdoor setting.

Hit the beach

You don’t have to be a marathoner to know that running on a beautiful beach is far more enjoyable than bouncing on a rickety treadmill in some basement somewhere. Yes, setting does matter. If for no other reason, it helps us take our minds off of exercise, which can and often is uncomfortable and unpleasant.

Go hiking

Whether we know it or not, boredom is the number one reason why most of use avoid exercise. Let’s be honest: running on a treadmill or using an elliptical is boring because it’s tedious and repetitive.  But when you engage in the same activity in an unfamiliar setting where there’s something new to see around every corner….well, then it’ bearable, even exciting!

Author

Dr. Charles Goldsmith Dr. Charles Goldsmith started his career as an OB/GYN over 30 years ago. He ran a successful practice but noticed his clients consistently requesting assistance with weight loss. After countless hours of research and studying the numerous aspects of weight loss, Dr. Goldsmith determined that weight loss is very complex and needed to be supervised by a physician.