The Great Escape!

Happy mother with her children gardening. [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/search/lightbox/9786778][img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40117171/family.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/search/lightbox/9786750][img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40117171/summer.jpg[/img][/url]

Happy family run at park

Finally, we have some sunshine here in the UK! Now it’s time to perform the great escape out of your home and into nature to get fit and increase your wellbeing.

In truth getting outdoors is a good thing in any season but summer makes it a lot easier (unless you hate the heat of course). That said, get your sun block on and wear a good cap to protect your skin.

Here are some handpicked outdoor activities that burn up calories and have great health benefits whilst ensuring you have some fun:

Hiking: it improves your cardio respiratory fitness (heart, lungs & blood vessels), aids better quality sleep, reduces depression and burns up to 370 calories per hour (based on a 154 lb person)

Cycling: improves joint mobility, improves posture and coordination, increases muscle strength and flexibility, works the major leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, gluts and calves) and burns between 75-670 per 30-minute session depending on weight. Check these guidelines:

• Recreational, 5mph: 75-155kcal
• Moderate, 10mph: 190-415kcal
• Vigorous, 15mph: 300-670kca

Golf: it keeps your heart rate up, in turn increases blood flow to the brain which can stimulate and improve nerve cell connections. It can also improve vision, reduce stress and burn up to 1000 calories in a single game (if you walk, not cart, and carry your own golf clubs!)

Gardening: is a great stress reliever, builds hand strength & dexterity, has been found to alleviate symptoms of psoriasis, allergies and asthma, gives a lift that positively impacts mental health & depression and of course calories are burned; click here to see what each gardening activity burns.

Playing With The Kids: the most significant benefits are time with your kids and having some childlike fun; who can get too much of those? No one! Check out the calories burned having fun times with the kids!

So make the great escape today and live a healthier life!

To your wellbeing,

Yvonne