Camping Workout

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It’s the season to camp but it doesn’t have to be the season to slack off on your workouts! Many people decide to take a 2 month sabbatical during the summer because they can’t seem to find the time to get to a gym but it doesn’t have to be this way. You can give your body an amazing workout with no equipment whatsoever. There are literally hundreds of exercises you can do to target all muscle groups. So, as we tell our clients, no excuses gang! Here are some ideas to help you stay on track:

Cardiovascular:

If you want to maintain your aerobic fitness and keep on burning calories to prevent weight gain, use the outdoors as your playground.  A hike, run, power walk, cycle, or swim can be done pretty much anywhere.  Get up early and take the time for yourself before your kids, friends and family start demanding your energy. You’ll feel so much better for it. And remember, it doesn’t have to be an all-out time consuming workout. Ten minutes may be all you need.  Every little bit counts and something is better than nothing. Take time to enjoy the scenery, listen to the sounds and smell the beautiful fragrances of the outdoors.

Muscle-conditioning:

The exercise choices are limitless. Lunges, step ups, pushups, tricep dips and wall squats are favorite exercises while away from the gym because they are so efficient, effective and don’t require any equipment. They target all your lower body muscles and train your balance as well. If you can purchase an exercise tube with handles at your local fitness department store, your choices are so much greater.  You can wrap a tube around a pole, tree, fence or deck and perform back rows and pulldowns and tricep pressbacks. You can also sit and wrap the tube under a chair and perform overhead shoulder and tricep presses. You can stand on the tube and perform bicep curls and side shoulder raises. Your options are numerous and a tube isn’t going to take up too much space or weight in your luggage.  Your abdominal work, of course, can be done anywhere using planks, v-sits, crunches etc.

Flexibility:

Stretching, a component that should not be neglected while away, can be done anywhere. There’s nothing better than stretching or performing some tai chai exercises by the lake or river. What a great way to finish a workout and start or finish the day.

Sherri McMillan, M.Sc. has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for over 25 years and has received numerous industry awards including International Personal Trainer and Fitness Presenter of the Year. She is the author of five books including “Go For Fit – the Winning Way to Fat Loss” and “Fit over Forty” and is the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs.  She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver and can be seen running, hiking or cycling with her two children, Brianna and Jackson.  She can be reached at www.nwPersonalTraining.com or www.ShapeupwithSherri.com

Note:  As an avid Columbian reader, you can redeem a 2 week pass at her world-class training studio to help get you started.  Contact 360.574.7292 for more details.