Are you sick of the gym? Are you in need of a change to your workout routine? If so, why not take your fitness outside? Here are six reasons why you should ditch the gym and exercise outside.
1. It feels less routine than working out in the same environment every day. Unpredictability is essential for the human spirit. When you exercise outside, every day the environment is a little bit different. Even if you work out at the same park, chances are the weather and surroundings will never be quite the same as they were the day before.
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2. You breathe better air outside. There is no doubt that fresh air outside is superior to the recycled air you breathe inside of a building. Fresh air will even give you more energy. Just 20 minutes of working out outside is equivalent to drinking one cup of coffee in terms of its energy-boosting effects.
3. You'll burn more calories. You are pretty limited on the treadmill or elliptical. Sure you can adjust the incline, but nothing beats the complex terrain of the outdoors. Working out outside promotes "muscle confusion," which can help your body burn more calories.
While outside, you will probably also work out longer than you would indoors at a gym because indoors you're probably constantly checking how much time you have left. It's easy to lose track of time and exercise longer when you're working out in a beautiful environment, like a park.
