Fun in the sun
Take advantage of temperature and time changes!
By Lisa Snider 06/10/2010
Summer is right around the corner, and with it come the longer days and warmer temperatures that breathe new life into daily workouts.
Not only have I realized the benefits of a few more hours of sunshine, so has my Labrador. The minute I get home from work, he is looking for his leash. Walking is one of the easiest ways to incorporate fitness into everyday routines, and walking with a dog is just a lot of fun. I’ve been taking Toby for what I call telephone-pole runs. We run from one telephone pole to the next, then we walk the next two telephone poles before kicking it up again. It sure keeps my four-legged companion on his toes. For a change of pace, try getting off the pavement and into nature. It not only changes the scenery, it changes a simple leisurely stroll into a fat-burning power hike, so get out onto one of our county’s many trails while the temps are still relatively mild.
As soon as my pool recovers from having a drowned gopher stuck in the vacuum for a week, I plan to jump in after work for a couple of laps. A daily dip clears my head of the rigors of the office, cools me down and gives me a nice cardio boost. Swimming gets the body moving in new ways while working all of the major muscle groups. If you don’t have the luxury of a gopher-fouled pool in your backyard, head on over to one of the aquatic centers in Oxnard or Ventura, or check out your local YMCA.
Another great way to enjoy the great outdoors is in your own garden. Digging, lifting, raking, lunging, squatting — these are all activities that will shape, tone and burn calories. And what better way to enjoy the fruits of your labor than with a nice, healthy, home-cooked meal that you nurtured and grew yourself?
Summer is also an excellent time for adventure and learning something new. Try rock climbing in the Sespe, kayaking at Lake Casitas or surfing in the Pacific. Rentals and guides are easy to come by. If that sounds too adventurous for you, then how about hula hooping? A hooper can burn 100 calories in just 10 minutes. Every Sunday afternoon in Ojai’s Libbey Park, a group of hoopers meets to swirl their hips, and they have plenty of sturdy, weighted hoops to share with newcomers.
With all of this fun in the sun, don’t forget the sunscreen. A few minutes a day of incidental sun exposure will boost your vitamin D intake. But after that, it’s time to slather on some protection. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. with more than 1 million new cases every year, so be sure to apply SPF 15 or better, and reapply often.
Lisa Snider is a local freelance writer. For more, go to www.LisaSnider.com.
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