21 Mar 10 ways to ‘spring’ back into shape

With spring officially here, there’s no excuse for putting off fitness anymore.
The days will be getting longer and weather warming up, so the opportunities for fitness will be more and more plentiful.
If your fitness regimen is still in hibernation here are 10 great ways to spring back into shape:
1. Go for a walk outside or light jog – This is a great way to shake some of the rust off.
2. Go for a bike ride – Find a good trail or safe route in your town to enjoy the outdoors with a bike ride.
3. Start a stretching program – Improve your flexibility, but make sure you are stretching properly and only after sufficiently warming up.
4. Set goals – Pick short- and long-term goals, such as lose 10 pounds or exercise at least three times a week and then stick to them.
5. Come up with a workout plan – Either talk to a trainer or research a fitness regimen yourself. Then write it down and stick to it.
6. Don’t be too hard on yourself – If you do get sidetracked and fall short of your goals, get back into your fitness routine as soon as possible.
7. Play catch – Throw the baseball or softball around with family members. Have fun while you get some light exercise – maybe medium exercise if you’re chasing tosses from a wild thrower.
8. Play outdoor basketball – Find an outdoor basketball court and enjoy your own March Madness hoop action, just don’t get too wild with your game until you’re in better shape.
9. Fly a kite – Mix exercise with nature by flying a kite. The kids will love it and adults will have fun, too.
10. Clean up the yard – Get a head start on yard work for the spring and summer by cleaning up the debris left over from a long winter. Working in your yard is a great way to get exercise, and also improve your property.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com