Exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle but going to the gym can become a bit monotonous, especially if you always do the same routine. Now that spring is here it’s a great time to get out and about and take your exercise outdoors! Not only will it add some variety to your routine but outdoor exercise is proven to have health benefits too. We also have some suggestions for outdoor exercises that will help minimize your cellulite and prevent it from developing further.
Exercising outdoors is generally more enjoyable and engaging, as you have so much more to look at, which can lead to you exercising for longer. And if you exercise somewhere green, either in the countryside or a park, you’ll be getting all the benefits of being close to nature. Studies have shown that spending time in nature is a great stress reliever and can help calm mental illness, as well as encouraging you to exercise more*.
Running or walking outside also has many benefits compared to using a treadmill or static bike. Did you know that you have a wider range of motion in your ankles, knees, and hips when you run outside**, leading to a wider range of muscle movement? You also cover more diverse terrain including far more varied slopes than a treadmill can ever give you. All this leads to more strenuous exercise, using more energy than running the same distance on a treadmill. This is also true for cycling outside, as opposed to on a static bike. You’ll burn more calories cycling the same distance outside than inside, thanks to wind drag. And even better, you’ll probably end up running or cycling further when you’re outside, without even realizing it.
Outdoor exercise to beat cellulite
While exercise won’t ever completely get rid of your cellulite it can strengthen the connective tissues and reduce the appearance of cellulite. It can also burn fat and tone up your thighs and butt, making cellulite less noticeable and preventing it from developing further. Combining exercise with an anti-cellulite massage treatment, like the Glo910, will help you see even more of a reduction in cellulite.
Cardio and HIIT workouts are great overall fitness boosters, strengthening not just your legs, but your whole body. Interval runs, hill workouts, and skipping rope is also great for burning fat and can all be done outside, and strength training can help target specific muscle groups in problem areas, toning you up and reducing the appearance of cellulite.
HIIT or interval workouts***
There are many different versions of HIIT workouts, but the basic idea is that you do several short bouts of extremely intense activity interspersed with lower intensity movement. They’re very effective for improving athletic ability and burning fat, and many of them require little or no equipment so can be done anywhere, including your local park****.
Strength Training
If you want to smooth away your cellulite a great way is to firm up the muscles in your legs, hips, and butt. Here are some easy exercises that you can do in the park, that will target these muscles, as well as one that will work your upper body too. Try and do them at least twice a week:
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Lunges - you can do either walking or stationary lunges to firm up all your lower body muscles. Take a large step forward and lower your body so both of your knees form 90-degree angles, keeping your front knee over the front ankle. Return to the starting position. Do between 30 - 50 repetitions for each leg.
- Step-ups - using a bench or stairs step-up and then down with the same leg. Do 20 repetitions for each leg.
- Squats - stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and keeping your chest up and back straight, extend your hips down and back (like you're sitting in a chair) making sure to keep your weight on your heels. Try to go down until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor but make sure your knees don’t extend past your toes. Do 20 repetitions.
- Plank chest taps - Begin in the plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and legs extended and firm. Your head should be in-line with your spine. Keep your spine neutral and lift up your right hand to tap your left shoulder. Put your right hand down and repeat the motion with your left hand. Do 8-10 repetitions with each hand.
* http://time.com/4881665/green-spaces-nature-happiness/
** https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266869/
*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
**** https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/lose-weight/burn-fat/no-gym-hiit-workout/
