How to Exercise in the Spring?

With the sun shining and flowers in full bloom, it can only signal one thing: The start of spring. But having gone through a bitterly cold winter, you're hardly in shape now--and you're not sure how you should get back into your routine. "People should put their pride in the back seat and not go out and try to run 10 miles on the first day after a winter of little or no physical activity," says Brian Crites, M.D, the head team doctor at the University of Maryland. "The 'no pain, no gain' mentality doesn't work--you have to take it slow." And indeed, his advice holds true: Those who rush into exercise after a long absence not only are more likely to stop exercising in the long haul (it's just too hard to keep up), it can also increase the risk of injury. That's obviously something no one wants when they're trying to get back into their workout routine.

How to Exercise in the Spring So considering Crites' advice, what is the best way to exercise? First, Crites recommends scheduling a physical exam first to make sure it's safe to exercise. "Try to schedule your yearly exam to correspond with the start of spring, so you can get a clean bill of health and tell your doctor you are going to start gearing up your activity level," says Crites. In addition, here's what he recommends for those trying to get back into their routine: 1. Start off by walking. Walking is a low impact exercise nearly everyone can do and requires no equipment. Crites recommends starting off with a 10 minute walking session, eventually working up to 40 minutes as your heart adjusts to the impact. 2. Don't dive into an intense workout program. As popular as Crossfit and Insanity are, it's not for beginners--and you risk injuring yourself if you do intense exercise right away. Instead, stick with the basics to start: Simple cardio and light Weightlifting can help prepare you for these activities later on. 3. Stick with the outdoors. While heading into a gym to work out seems more idyllic, take advantage of the spring weather while you can--the challenging road conditions also make you work harder, burning more calories. In turn, you'll build good, lean muscle as well, making you healthier and stronger. Remember to clear these activities first with your doctor before beginning any program, especially if you have a history of health problems. Source: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/spring-back-exercise-program