Summer Fitness

The summer is a great time to restore your fitness.  Many people have more free time in the summer, which allows for more time to exercise.  Exercise looks a little different for every individual as we are all at different fitness levels and can tolerate varying levels of strenuous activity.  The summer can also be a difficult time to exercise because of the extremely hot temperatures. Today I'm here to share with you some things that help motivate me and how I exercise in the summer. 

 5 Pieces of Advice:

1. Hydrate! Drink lots of water before, during, and after working out.  Staying hydrated will keep you from cramping. 
2. Exercise early in the morning or late at night.  It is best to avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day. 
3. Take a cold shower afterwards.  This helps cool you down much faster.
4. Purchase clothing that wicks moisture away.  You sweat a lot more during a summer workout, so having the proper clothing will make you feel more comfortable. 
5. Eat wisely.  Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet is a great idea because they are high in water content. 

5 Sources of Motivation:

1. Track your progress and celebrate the small successes.  
2. Choose a fitness buddy. Working out with a partner helps with accountability.  You are able to motivate each other on those days where it seems impossible to get your daily workout in.
3. Set a goal.  If you have a goal then it makes working out more meaningful.  
4. Remind yourself it is worth the time and effort. If you want to increase your fitness levels it is going to take hard work and time. The workouts may be challenging, but it is important to remind yourself that your health is important.
5. Make a list of why working out is important to you.  This is a great self motivation technique. 

5 Different Types of Exercise:

1. Go for a hike.  A long challenging hike is a great way to get some exercise.  It is fun and something you can do while on vacation, with a friend, or by yourself.  It is also free to hike at most state parks. 
2. Go for a run/walk.  You can do this anywhere.  Sometimes summer involves lots of traveling, which can make working out tricky, but there is no excuse for you not to be able to do this type of exercise.  You don't have to push yourself too hard.  The distance and speed you run is up to you.  
3. Join a sports team.  This is my third summer playing  in an adult field hockey league.  We play games twice a week for about an hour.  It is a great workout and tons of fun. Running up and down a field for 50 minutes is much more tolerable than running on your own for that long. 
4. Take a fitness class. If you aren't traveling much, then this is a great option.  There are many different fitness classes out there. Signing up and paying for a class increases accountability. If you paid, then you are more likely to make the effort to attend. It is more difficult to blow it off than just a run around your neighborhood by yourself.
5. Go for a swim. Swimming laps is just as good for you as running.  It might be better in the sense that there is no impact on your knees and joints. 

If you need some more inspiration or ideas for fitness, then checkout my pinterest board. 

XOXO