Summer Exercise

Summer is a great time to begin working out. The longer days, warmer weather, and flexible schedules mean we are more motivated to be physically active during the summer months than at any other time of the year (Howard, 2016). With increased activity comes the well-documented benefits of exercise: improved brain health, better weight management, stronger bones and muscles, and longer lifespans (Benefits of Physical, 2022). 

The key to a healthy summer is not just working out, however. It is working out consistently. A consistent fitness structure, which is defined as training a minimum of three to four times a week, is required to unlock the aforementioned benefits of exercise. Individuals who commit to regular activity regimens will have higher fitness levels, improved health, and a greater sense of well-being compared to those with inconsistent or no physical activity (The Importance, n.d.). The importance of a regular fitness program possesses biological support. During workouts, a variety of reactions occur within the body. These reactions change with physical activity and allow people to gain strength, grow, or run more efficiently; such changes are called adaptations. Consistent training promotes the fastest adaptations (Peters, 2019). 

Thus, we have a prime opportunity for us to establish an exercise routine in the coming months. It is far easier to make a habit of working out when motivation is relatively high (during the summer) than when it tapers off later in the year. 

Benefits of Physical Activity. (2022, June 16). CDC. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm#:~:text=Being%20physically%20active%20can%20improve,activity%20gain%20some%20health%20benefits

Howard, J. (2016, July 29). Forget New Year's; start a summer workout instead. CNN Health. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/health/summer-exercise-benefits/index.html

The Importance of Working Out with Consistency. (n.d.). FitDay. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/the-importance-of-working-out-with-consistency.html

Peters, H. (2019, June 6). In Training, Consistency Is the Key to Your Fitness Goals. NIFS. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.nifs.org/blog/in-training-consistency-is-the-key-to-your-fitness-goals