Good Alternatives to the Gym

Don’t have time to make it to the gym today?  Are you looking for some good alternatives to the gym to add variety to your workout? There are many things you can do to get the same workout without actually going to a gym.  

Hiking is a good alternative to going to the gym.  Hiking can range from walking around your block to hiking Mount St. Helens.  There are many benefits to hiking.  Some of the benefits are weight loss, relieve back pain, and it does not cost anything (except an occasional park fee).  Make sure you wear good shoes and sock so you don’t get blisters, and your feet and ankles are supported.  When looking for good shoes, make sure they has good traction on the soles.  

When you go hiking, make sure you bring lots of water.  While trying to lose weight, you need to drink at least a gallon of water a day.  Contrary to popular belief, water does not make you retain water.  It actually flushes out all the toxins from your body.  Along with health benefits of hiking, there are also mental benefits.  Hiking is a good way to “burn” the stress off.  It gives you some “me” time.  Studies have shown that giving yourself some “me” time every so often will lengthen your life span and your life will be less stressful.

Biking is another great alternative to the gym.  If you do not have a bike, the gym has stationary bikes.  They also sometimes offer free spinning classes to its members.  About 40 percent of Americans are overweight.  Biking is a good physical activity to lose weight.   Biking burns about 25 calories per mile.  Bikes also help create lean muscles in your legs.  Creating muscle is an essential part to losing weight.  The more muscle your body creates, the more calories you will burn.  Biking is low impact, so it reduces stress on your joints.  Biking can also reduce the stress in your life.  Once again, studies have shown that the less stress a person has in their life the healthier they are.  

There are many DVD workouts you can use at home.  There is Yoga, Pilates, aerobic, step and dance, kickboxing, and weight training.  Sometimes being at the gym or taking a class can be too intimidating.  Doing an exercise DVD in the comfort of your own home can be the thing that gets most people enthusiastic about exercising.  When you look for an exercise DVD consider your fitness level.  If you are a beginner, look for something that has multiple levels on it so you can work your way up to a more intense workout.  You also want to make sure you have enough room in your house to properly do the routines so you can get the most out of your workout.  If you see a workout you think you might like, check it out from the library first to see if it is something you really like.  Once you like something, buy several different workouts.  This will give you a variety, and most programs work different parts of the body.

Taking whey protein is easy to do at home.  There is no need to go to a gym to take whey protein.  There is no training schedule.  Whey protein has many advantages.  First, it is dairy base, which means it is digested easier and can quickly provide food to the muscles. Second, whey protein isolates have 90% pure protein in it.  These whey proteins have less carbohydrates and fats than soy based proteins.  Third, it has immunity boosting qualities.

There are many alternatives to going to the gym.  Just look around you and you will be surprised with what you find.