It's Summer, Get Outside

I love the gym, but in the past few weeks I've spent less time there. Why? It's simple. It's summer and I want to spend as much time as possible surfing while the water is warm.

So over the past two or three weeks I've gone to the gym twice during the week and surfed at least once, meaning I'm missing one regular gym session. Sure, I could try to work it in but I know that surfing is a workout itself and I also know my body needs to recover between workouts -- whatever form they take.

But here's the thing, I walk into the gym now feeling a little more refreshed than usual because I'm not there as much. And I think I'm attacking my workouts with a bit more vigor.

So see what you can find to do outside and mix it in with your regular workouts.

Are You Seeing Progress?

There's a guy at my gym who I see frequently. A quick glance at him and he appears to be working hard -- he's sweating, after all. But look closer and you see someone who obviously is following the wrong workout program. Why? Well, he looks the same as he did a year or so ago, which is to say he still looks overweight.

Then I watched his workout. He was using very little weight; it's clear these days that heavier weights juice your progress. He was doing moves like curls, which have limited use compared with multi-joint exercises like the squat, deadlift and pullup. He also was using the machines too much instead of free weights.

If you're doing the right workout program for you, you'll start to see changes. I've even read about some people taking pictures of themselves to chart their progress. And seeing progress is a powerful motivator.

Take a look at yourself. Are you seeing changes in your body? Do you feel better? If not, it's time to reevaluate your workout program and possibly your diet.

Powerful Motivation

OK, I'll admit it -- there are days when I don't feel like working out.

That's saying something, considering that fitness has basically become a hobby for me. Today is one of those days. I simply feel sluggish, which means it would be easy to stay home after work instead of changing and heading to the gym.

But I'll go. I know I will. And here's why -- working out has never failed to make me feel better. There's that simply sense of accomplishment I get from having done it. Then there's the knowledge that I'm doing something to improve myself physically. Finally, it makes me feel better mentally, more alive, more focused.

With benefits like those, I'd be crazy to skip a regular workout.