by Julie Brealy

Do you workout everyday in a confined air-conditioned room and stare at the same wall every time you run in the treadmill? Sometimes the gym can be suffocating especially during the peak hours. You are lucky if your time is flexible because you can hit the gym anytime of the day.

However, if you are one of those unlucky who can workout only in the gym after office hours, then perhaps you may want to consider other options for fitness. Why not step out from a typical crowded fitness gym and hit the neighbouring park to get fit?

Here are the top five benefits why you should consider outdoor exercise for your fitness.

The Unrivaled Benefits of Sunlight. Nowadays our work and lifestyle has driven us to spend more time indoor. More so, there is the news, researches and stories about over exposure to sun can lead to skin cancer.

These are few reasons that propel us to take for granted the benefits of sunlight. However, proper exposure to natural sunlight is good for our health and well-being. It has a significant effect in our bones because sunlight makes our bones denser. The Vitamin D that we get from the natural sunlight helps the process of calcifying our bones.

Also, skin exposure to sunlight boosts our immune system and it makes the healing process of cuts, bruises and rashes faster because it transports more blood to the skin surface.

Indeed exposure to sunlight is vital to our body and for these reasons; its benefits cannot be underrated.

Fresh Air for Cleaner Lungs. Most of us know that fresh air is good for our health but have you asked why?

You stayed for few hours in the bar last night or you occasionally spray air fresheners at home. We also regularly inhale dust that is swirling unnoticed around us. All these impurities are breathed in through our nose and mouth, and because our respiratory system is like a sponge, it absorbs all the impurities.

However, with fresh air it cleanses our lungs because it brings more oxygen to our body. The more oxygen we have in the body, the better it is because it boosts up our energy level and it significantly clears our brain.

If you want to be on top of your performance always, physical and mentally, step out and get a fresh air. The easiest way to achieve this is to carry out a regular outdoor exercise.

A moment to Appreciate Mother Nature. Let us face it. We run in the treadmill everyday and looking at the same wall for an hour or two. Or you can deceive yourself and install a nature theme TV screen but still, nothing can replace the real beauty of nature - the vast blue sky, the greenery landscape and the woods.

These beautiful sceneries are soothing not only to our eyes but to our total well-being. Exercising outdoor is invigorating and revitalizing experience.

Fun & Adventure. How many of us quit the gym because of boredom because we do the same routine every day?

There are great outdoor workouts that you can choose and it ranges from jogging, hiking, swimming, cycling, gardening, skiing, skateboarding and so on.

Opportunity to Develop New Skills or Hobby. You cannot certainly be extremely good in all various sports but you can definitely try and continue practicing until you become good at it. This process can lead you to discovering an untapped potential to excel at certain outdoor sports or exercise that you never consider before being good at.

It is a good occasion to learn, explore and nurture new skills or hobby.

These top five benefits of outdoor exercise cannot be taken for granted. It is the best way to keep a healthy lifestyle and improve your fitness level. Though another option you can consider is fitness boot camp wherein you will have the proper guidance from certified fitness experts and nutritionists. Boot camps offer varied outdoor activities and exercises.

Julie Brealy is the health manager at FitFarms, UK’s No. 1 Weight Loss Holiday and Fitness Boot Camp. She has been working for over 10 years in the weight loss industry advising companies in the US and the UK. Julie is also an experienced deep tissue massage therapist.

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Brealy

It is quite common for us to take for granted breakfast meal because of various reasons.  We always rush in the morning to catch the bus or we don’t have time to prepare a hearty breakfast meal because we wake up late. Though we are aware that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, we hardly pay attention to this fact. Instead we grab the easiest and convenient breakfast which can either be coffee, donut, croissant, and fat-rich breakfast items.

That is why reading the article in CNN Health entitled ‘Breakfast Can Help Keep You Lean’ is very striking.  Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, and with the help of American Dietetic Association’s experts, reviewed few of the most popular breakfast meal and accordingly graded it into A, B, and C.

The idea is to pay attention to what you eat in the breakfast. A good choice is a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fiber, and the ideal breakfast concoction is comprised of oatmeal with skim milk, a half-ounce nuts, berries and orange juice.

Also, according to the article it is essential to consume significant calories for breakfast and a recommended amount is 500-calories for an average person.

You can click here to read more about the article, ‘Breakfast Can Help Keep You Lean’ from CNN.com - Diet and Fitness.

There is an interesting article in New York Times entitled ‘Train the Mind to Run Right Through Winter’ written by Gina Kolata.  She cited how other people’s exercise routines are affected with the weather. During winter and fall people tend to quit their exercise routines compared in the summer season.

How many of us are guilty of this? It can be a good excuse to escape our exercise regime, right? However, the article conveys a message that we should carry our exercise regardless of the weather.

It means exercising against all odds. Exercising despite of the weather condition is a matter of commitment to our fitness goal. A one-day-slip from our exercise routine can turn to two days or more until we realize that we eventually lost track of our fitness goal.

It may not be easy to run in a chilling weather but a proper conditioning of the mind will greatly help. To be a seasoned runner or biker, one has to run or bike in any season. Weather condition should not beat your determination to keep up in your fitness goal.

Read the full article, ‘Train the Mind to Run Right Through Winter‘ from NYTimes.com - Fitness and Nutrition.

We are all aware that carbohydrates play a vital role in our body. It provides our body the necessary energy hence if we are involved in strenuous physical activity, it is important to cautiously review our carb intake.

The article in CNN health entitled “Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates” outlines the list of best source of carbs which contain the valuable nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. One of it is the energy shake that is comprised of yoghurt and fruits. The article referred it as a winning combination because yoghurt boosts the protein and calcium content while the fruits add natural sweetness and vitamin C. It is an ideal drink for tired and sore muscles.

Other options include whole grain oats, rice noodles and mixed grain salads.

We are oftentimes misled that carbs can make us fat. However, choosing the right source of carbs which are packed with nutrients can boost our energy level. Indeed reading the article ‘Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates’ is enlightening. It gives us a deeper understanding about the right carbs to ensure that we stay fit and healthy.

Read the full article, ‘Replenish your energy with the right carbohydrates‘ from CNN.com - Health.

Yes! I know is it really true?

Well much to my disbelief yes today is my 40th birthday.

Every month this year I am going to share with you a log of what targets the FitFarms Health Manager has set  herself. Yes, I set myself targets as well you know. Which brings me to my 2009 target which I set last January  for my 40th birthday. The target was to go under 11 stone. At the time I weighted 12st 6lbs. Ok so I hear you, why should that be a problem she’s a fitness professional? Well ladies like you I also have hurdles to jump over to get to where I want to be. As you know I have quite a busy job which involves giving lots of time to others. When clients flock to FitFarms you only give me one week to change your health for the better and then you fly away again (hopefully stronger and fitter) so I never get much time to myself. So just like some of you missing meals at not eating at the right times this also happens to me.

Julia the nutritionist said my adrenal glands were working over time and my thyriod function was very low which all added up to my body not losing weight or body fat.

I know what you’re are now thinking you work at weight loss and fitness camp you exercise everyday……… but you forget ladies we all have to work in our zones and while chasing you around for 7 days keeps me fit I don’t actually get in my zone driving the car to make sure you are in yours!

So in January I sat down with Julia to see what advice she could give me. We discussed types and amounts of food I would need to eat to support my glands and hormones and to be as disciplined with my eating as I am with my work. She basically told me off!!

Then I planned my exercise for my weeks outside FitFarms, I ran 4 miles 3-4 times a week, 2 classes of step, lots of kettlebell swinging and a gym session everyday, while at FitFarms I worked out when you ladies were still asleep at 5am with my kettlebell and lots of core strengthening, the food became like clockwork eating 6 to 7 times a day with no temptations to distract me.

I’m pleased to be able to report that I have reached my target to be under 11st by my 40th year. There were a few ups and downs but as I stand on 12/11/09 I weigh 10st 10lbs.

So what next?
Well over the last 3 months I’ve had kind words from a number of clients saying that I have been an inspiration to them and that has spurred me on to go out and set myself targets for my 40th year. Read more…

FitFarms is running its 7 day weight loss camps on 13th, 20th and 27th November.

We are running a special offer on these weeks of a £300 discounted rate. The courses will fill quickly so call on 0800 634 3070 or email info@fitfarms.co.uk if you wish to attend.

Julie Brealy the health manager and one of the major driving forces behind the success of FitFarms is is having a special fitness year starting on Thursday. Julie has been with FitFarms from day 1 and has developed the course into an award winning weight loss camp.

You will be able to follow Julie’s special fitness year on Twitter and Facebook. She will also have a section on the FitFarms blog where you will also be able to be updated.

FitFarms has had a major change around this year to keep up with the growth of the company. We moved into larger offices in July to create space for a larger team that is now helping us bring our new product FitParks to the market. On 27th of November we’re moving are Exmoor site to a luxurious victorian manor house with views over the national park. Even though this is a lavish upgrade to the accommodation side of the course we have decided to keep our prices the same to help our clients in the recession.

Remember to keep an eye on the www.fitparks.co.uk website as we’re rapidly moving into all major parks around UK and Ireland. Once we have opened in all the major parks we will be looking at the more rural areas.

Reading the article ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink’ by Caitlin Hagan is really an eye-opening.

Nowadays people are bombarded with wide range of options for one specific item. Fifty years ago, a coffee is a simple concoction of hot water, coffee powder, sugar and milk as an optional ingredient. These days when you walk into a coffee shop, there are endless selections to choose stretching from hot to iced coffee and from simple to complex coffee concoctions.

If we don’t pay enough attention to what we drink, we are definitely sabotaging our goal to lose weight.  Let’s say you want to have more flavor to your plain coffee so you added a tablespoon of whipping cream.  Unknowingly you already padded the calories in your plain coffee as the whipping cream contains approximately 50 calories with 5 grams of fat.

You are aware that supermarkets and restaurants are flooded with liquid calorie options. To defend yourself from sabotaging your weight loss goal, it is important to start reading the labels of your drinks. As mentioned in the ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink’,  consuming an extra 500 calories every day for seven days will make you gain at least one pound a week.

Just an extra attention to what you drink will make a big difference in your goal to stay fit and healthy!

Read the full article, ‘Trying to lose weight? Watch what you drink‘ from CNN.com - Health.

The article ‘Keep Your Indoors Workouts Interesting’ written by Matt Fitzgerald gives us an insightful ways to maximize the result of our indoor workouts using the five popular gym equipments.

It is based on the concept of Chris Carmichael, founder of Carmichael Training Systems, and coach to Lance Armstrong. According to him, “by decreasing the duration and varying the intensity of your exercise sessions, you’ll get better results in less time”.

The article offers guidelines on how to effectively use the elliptical trainer, the rower, the stair climber, the stationary bike and the treadmill while allocating 20 minutes for each equipment.

This is a great idea to resolve the routine workout in the fitness gym that results to boredom. Instead of doing 3-4 hours workout, you can do it in one hour and forty minutes with the same result by following the guidelines in ‘Keep Your Indoors Workouts Interesting’.

It is no doubt that walking daily for one hour in the treadmill is boring. So why not make a twist in your regular gym workout and rake the optimum benefits in less time.

Before you hit the gym tomorrow, make sure to read first the full article of  ‘Keep Your Indoors Workouts Interesting’ from MSN Health and Fitness. Health article provided by Men’s Health.

Yes! You read it correctly – cookies for weight loss. Are you wondering how on earth can cookies help you lose weight? Apparently ‘cookie diet’ is the latest craze now in the arena of weight loss.

In the article ‘A Few Cookies a Day to Keep the Pounds Away?’, Abby Ellin has written an in-depth details about the cookie diet.  The mind behind this revolutionary diet program is Dr. Sanford Siegal and it is claimed that there are approximately 500,000 people who have lose weight using cookie diet. You can expect to lose up to 10 pounds in a month by eating cookies.

Hence, it is no wonder that this concept of weight loss hits the market because we are in an era where people want quick-fix solution and instant results. We forget that those extra kilos in our bellies and thighs were gained in weeks or months of overeating. And now, we want to get rid right away those extra weight without sweat.

Though the cookie diet is a success, it also gains numerous criticisms. Critics are concerned about its nutritional value and the side effects of consuming below 1000-calories. It is a fact that the basic equation for weight loss is diet and exercise, a formula that withstands the test of time. If we want to lose weight for good, it means changing our eating habits and keeping a healthy lifestyle. And this doesn’t happen overnight.

Let’s face it. There is no magic formula for weight loss. Perhaps there are quick-fix options but still in the end, it is all about being healthy for longer life. So before you succumb to any diets, remember that you have only one body. Make sure that you prioritize first your health and safety.

Read the full article, ‘A Few Cookies a Day to Keep the Pounds Away‘ from NYTimes.com - Fashion and Style.

It is an interesting (and surprising) piece to read the article of Gina Kolata in New York Times. All the time we practice this school of thought that it is necessary to cool down after exercising.

However, it is cited in the article ‘Is the Exercise Cool-Down Really Necessary?’ that this particular subject is in fact understudied. There is no exact process on how to cool down or a concrete rationale as why it is necessary to cool down after exercising but there is one possible risk, a fact that is agreed by exercise researchers.

When we exercise, our heart beats faster and our blood vessels in our legs expand to send more blood to our feet and legs. A sudden stop in any exercise activity will result to slow heart beat and pool of blood in your legs and feet. This is the reason that sometimes you feel dizzy or even pass out after you suddenly stop from an intensive exercise.

Actually, those people who undergo intensive exercise such as athletes are likely to suffer from this because their bodies are conditioned with trainings and exercises. As a result, their heart rate is slow and if they abruptly stop from a physically rigorous exercise, the heart’s slowing down process is faster.

This information is really opposite to what we have been thought and practicing; nonetheless, there is no harm to do a cool-down after your exercise.

Read the full article, ‘Is the Exercise Cool-Down Really Necessary?‘ from NYTimes.com - Fitness and Nutrition.