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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters avoid the treadmill for 15 hours each month, in a year we'll save enough energy to power a post-workout whirlpool tub for almost 29 years.
COCKTAIL FACT
"The Hamsterdance Song" hasn't left Radio Disney's Top 30 chart since it was released in 2001.
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home › tip library › Exercise
Going nowhere fast?
The Bite
So get off the treadmill, and hit the street. Taking your workout outside can be just as effective as going to the gym, plus it saves electricity and avoids that hamster-in-a-wheel feeling you get after a couple of miles on the elliptical.The Benefits
- Saving power. Gyms across the country overload on A/C, and - newsflash - most of those training machines use electricity too.
- It's free. The average gym membership costs $55 per month - some people even manage to get paid for walking the streets. Ahem.
- Seeing the sights. Parks and trails offer better scenery than the weight room. There's a reason why nobody ever talks about the great indoors.
Personally Speaking
The Ideal Bite team members who don't practice yoga regularly (all two of us) get most of our exercise through activities like trail running, horseback riding, and hiking.Wanna Try?
- Trails.com - find a hiking trail near you; an annual membership is still cheaper than the gym (14-day free trial, then $50/year).
- Fitness Magazine - instructions for nine simple exercises you can take outside.
- Yoga Journal Pose Finder - yoga poses you can do at home, in the yard, or at the park.
Sep 24,2007
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Just Do It
Whenever I called my dad and told him I was feeling stressed, his answer was the same: "Just go play some tennis."
-Jenifer Morgan...off to work on my follow through...
-Jenifer Morgan...off to work on my follow through...
Biter Comments...
Regarding walking outdoors... there are lots of legitimate reasons to walk on a treadmill. My 87 year old grandmother walks on her's daily because her balance isn't great and she can hold on to the hand rails while she walks.
Many women won't walk outside along anymore because they feel they are open targets of violence and many people don't walk outdoors becaues the volume of traffic is so high and sidewalks are nearly non-existant in new developments, you're competeing with speeding vehicles for walking space and sucking in fumes while you do it.
I love to walk outdoors. I'm fortunate to live in an area with walking trails, but if I can't get out there before dusk, I don't go either.
I think this is a good tip, because I know there are a lot of people who use treadmills and other machines when they could easily go outside, but I also agree with Trudi. In my city, the air pollution and traffic are so bad that exercising outside is actually worse. It also gets incredibly hot here (Texas) so you run the risk of heat sroke or exhaustion. Add to that the fact that I have to drive some distance to get to the nearest trail, and it doesn't make for very pleasant or "natural" experience. Our solution? Do yoga in the house and ride our outdoor bikes inside on a stationary trainer. That doesn't use any power (except muscle power)! I'm deeply envious of people who have access to nice outdoor places to get their exercise. ;)
At California Fitness (a branch of 24-hour Fitness) in Hong Kong, the centers are being converted to being powered by the kinetic energy of the people using the machines.
http://inhabitat.com/2007/03/08/human-powered-gyms-in-hong-kong/
There are experiments in subway stations and dance clubs to turn the kinetic energy of walking into electricity.
http://inhabitat.com/2007/03/06/sustainable-dance-club/
This is also a great opportunity for distributed generation. If it is a suburban gym, then it has a flat roof that is perfect for solar power. They probably won't generate all their electricity but they can offset up to 20 percent of it. Combine that with electricity saving measures such as televisions that only work when the treadmill is on, motion sensitive lights, automatic shutoffs for plumbing and solartube lighting and not only will your gym increase their profits by not paying as much on utilities but they will be a much greener place to travel to.
That said, I love working in the yard and that provides a good workout on a daily basis. California requires sidewalks in all new developments for disabled access as well. We don't have much violence in my area but then when I go for my walks, I have a 110 lb dog with me as well. Or one could get a job like my wife. She works at an animal rescue as a vet tech. Between physical therapy and taking animals to the hospital, she probably walks 15 miles a day with them.
A few of the gals at our horse barn went on a horsebackriding weekend, just passed. If anyone thinks that isn't exersize...just try it. We were at extremely challenging trails. I wouldn't have hiked the trails we rode. Kudos to all the horses; mine (an Arab) was braver than I and covered the trails like a champeen. Only one gal fell off; she's a total newbie and needed the experience...heh, heh. She's none worse for the wear btw, but is sore as hell today. I'm sure she learned something important, don't be too cocky...the horse will teach you differnt every time!!!
Been there, done that... ;)
I totally agree about the horseback riding - where does it say that riding is passive exercise. Not to mention the before and after to the ride itself - ha, and theclean up if you aren't lucky enough to have someone to do it for you! Sounds like work to me!
I am really enjoying the outdoor runs right now, but as soon as the temps get below freezing I go back indoors (unfortunately that is quite a bit of the year). I love the idea of collecting the kinetic energy, hopefully that kind of technology will be more widespread soon.
I have a very inexpensive gym at work but I was getting bored with the routine (and with getting stuck inside). This summer I decided to spruce up my yard with some hard landscaping. I used heavy concrete pavers as well as lots of gravel and dirt, and got a great workout in the process! Next summer I'll be looking for more opportunities to improve my space and get an outdoor workout.
Best. Site. Ever.
www.mapmyrun.com
If you're a runner or want to start running, this is perfect for you. It does what it says - maps your run - plus a bunch more.
Enjoy.
K|T
Walking outdoors is excellent exercise (and is weightbearing for the lower body), and can have additional environmental benefits - you can collect recyclable litter and plastic bags, which can kill wildlife when washed into waterways.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Rachel | September 24, 2007 at 07:11 AM