Summer heat is no excuse for skipping workout
Is there anything as brutal as trying to tick off your 10,000th step of the day in Houston’s scorching summer heat? It’s enough to drive runners and weekend warriors inside, in search of an air-conditioned treadmill.
But a new study out of Austria found that you might not derive as many benefits from an indoor workout as you would from sweating outside.
The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, tracked subjects who participated in outdoor hikes, and indoor treadmill walks, collecting feedback about how much they enjoyed the activity. Turns out, the participants had more positive feedback after the outdoor hikes.
While the hike was more strenuous than the treadmill activity, participants reported they felt the hike was less strenuous. As a result, participants said they enjoyed the outdoor activity more, and they recorded being in a better mood after the hike than the treadmill walks.
Why? Researchers think the sense of accomplishment and positive attitudes associated with breathing in all that fresh air have a lot to do with it.
This is important, the researchers say, because people
are more likely to keep up with a workout they enjoy than one that feels tedious.
The researchers explain: “From a publichealth oriented perspective with increasing obesity rates, it is essential for health professionals to recommend efficient and pleasant forms of physical activity. According to the hedonic theory, people choose and maintain forms of physical activity they enjoy.”
Sounds lovely. But it’s not so easy to find an outdoor workout in Houston that will keep you coming back through the peak of summer, right? So we’ve put together this list of fun outdoor activities that might keep your mind off the heat while you burn calories.
1. Kayak the bayou: You’ll get a great upper body workout, and if it gets too hot, you can always splash yourself with some water to cool down.
2. Ride a B-Cycle: You don’t need to own a bike to get a good cardio workout riding through the city’s winding trails. Just rent one of the hundreds of B-Cycles posted throughout town for a couple hours, and enjoy the wind on your face.
3. Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga: Imagine outdoor yoga where falling is half the fun. Like kayaking, this offers a chance to cool off with a splash when things get too steamy. And there are plenty of places offering SUP yoga in the area.
4. Run through Hermann Park: We’re not saying you should attempt this in midday, but if you can squeeze an outdoor run into your schedule in the wee hours of morning, or just around twilight, you’ll find it’s not a total no-go during the summer months.
5. Outdoor volleyball: Houston’s seen a surge in places to play outdoor volleyball recently. And while it can get hot and sticky, at these new volleyball bars you can pair sport with a cold beer. Plus, the study’s researchers say it’s important to have fun — and who doesn’t love hanging out with friends?