IS IT CHALLENGING FOR YOU TO GET GOING ON YOUR WORKOUT some days? I sometimes lose motivation to go to the gym. Often the most challenging part of my workout is getting started. Today we explore one possible way to reboot your exercise routine, and the answer might be very near.
Exercising outdoors induces more positive feelings than the same indoor exercise. In this context, could outdoor training increase exercise adherence? Researchers recently compared the long-term effects of indoor and outdoor training on affective outcomes and exercise training adherence.
“If you are in a bad mood go for a walk.If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.”
― Hippocrates
Indoor versus outdoor exercise
Université de Sherbrooke (Canada) researchers asked study participants to complete hour-long cardio and weight-training workouts three times per week. Half of the group did their sessions in a conventional gym, while the rest completed the program outdoors.
Here are the results following the end of the 12-week experiment:
The outdoors group had a remarkably high compliance rate, attending 97 percent of their sessions (compared with 91 percent for the indoor group).
While the indoor group had a dip in motivation over time, the fresh air cohort remained ready to go throughout the study. The outdoors group members also appeared more active for the rest of the day than their indoor compatriots.
So if you want to jumpstart your exercise routine, take advantage of the good weather and shift your workout outdoors. You may get a psychological boost in addition to the other benefits.
I have written about the many physical benefits of moving, including this piece:
But you can benefit your brain, too:
Thank you for joining me today.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
