It has taken me a lifetime to understand my own personal requirements for working out. I've spent thousands of dollars for monthly gym passes and weight loss plans with very little progress. I feel so motivated and excited at the beginning, signing up but then a few weeks down the line, the work never happens and I feel disappointed with myself and end up in a downward spiral.
I don't think one size fits all in the health and fitness world. I used to. I do think that each person needs certain conditions that are met to reach their goals. For me, one of these conditions is being outdoors. I cannot go to the gym. Ok, that's not completely true. I do enjoy organized kickboxing classes with an intense teacher BUT the bulk of my workouts must be outside or I'm just not looking forward to it.
A gym to me is like a prison that you can't escape until your time is done. LOL! Just like I associate a dentist with painful teeth drilling, I associate the gym with something I'm forced to do to stay healthy.
It's strange to discover that a component of what you need to be successful is staring you right in the face. When I realized that I needed to workout outdoors in order to keep motivated it all seemed too simple of an answer. For years, I had this idea ingrained in my head that I needed to go to the gym. I don't know why...good marketing?
Working outdoors is stress relieving. The gym has a lot of people looking at other people. I hate that and for me it's stressful...self-induced peer pressure to look good. Yes, there are people looking at other people when working out outdoors but it's not as frequent. Unless you wear headphones, the gym can be a noisy place. In the outdoors many times you find yourself in silence with your own thoughts and if you're lucky listening to the sounds of nature. It's a completely different workout culture.
Working outdoors increases awareness of the world around you. The gym is like going to a second office. You are surrounded by four walls and your heads down getting your workout done. In the outdoors, your workout room can be different everyday. One day you could be doing a vigorous hike and up mountains through tall trees and another day you could be jogging down a road watching the sunset.
The workout possibilities are endless. I've done everything from swimming, hiking, yoga, running, HIIT circuit, zumba, and weight lifting outdoors and almost all of these activities are FREE! Find a beach, a park, an outdoor pool, a preserve or even your backyard lawn and get out there!
Picture: Kapiolani Park Loop, Honolulu, HI