Who Woulda' Thunk?! Benefits of Getting Outside

Raise your hand if you knew being outside was good for you.  (HAND UP!!!)  I’ve been told since I was a kid that being outside is good for me.  I always thought that it was a way to get me out of the house and not in my parents way but there are actually health benefits to getting outside.  And for us kayak anglers, hikers, snowshoers it’s just another reason to leave the confines of our house and head out!  So check out these benefits:

1)You’ll sleep better!

Did you know that our body has a rhythm to it?  You’ve probably heard about your internal clock, you know the thing that gets you up even when your alarm isn’t set.  Well this clock is timed with the sunrise and sunset.  By being outside your body can adjust and get into the rhythms of nature.  This is especially important for folks who spend a lot of time on the computer or electronics.  Get outside, and let your clock adjust.  You’ll find that you’ll sleep better and more sound than before!

2) Eyes

Ever hear the song with the lyrics “My Future’s so Bright, I gotta wear shades”.  I’m quoting from memory, so hopefully that’s right.  In any case, if you are stuck inside looking at something close to you, like a computer, phone etc. for hours on end then you are at risk of becoming near sighted.  Even just 2 hours puts you at risk.  How do you counter it?  Get outside, look around, and focus on objects that are farther away.  Ok, sure, you can do this inside as well, but really, get outside!  It’s much more fun!  And please wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays!

3) Stress Reduction

Have you ever had the experience of smelling something and it triggering a memory.  Smells are amazing.  They can cause you to remember certain sights, sounds, AND they can help you relieve stress.  Walking outside and smelling the fresh air helps calm the body and mind down.  No one really knows the reason how it happens, but it works.  Especially if you are able to walk in a woods, by a lake, just nature in general.  Even outside in a city works, but getting to a park or place away from a city can do even more.  Get out, breath deep, and relax.

4) Promotes Exercise

Now hold on to your seat, exercise!  Wait, I never mention that! Oh yeah, I kind of do.  Well, even if you’re not into busting out p90x you can still head outside.  It’s hard not to move when you’re outside.  Whether a walk, jog, hike, or even yoga, being outside almost makes one want to move.  

So let’s all get outside and improve ourselves surrounded by nature!

Gaining Courage

Gaining Courage...but how? Why?  Is it really going to help me at all?  You bet your best yak it will!  And you know what?  You don’t even need to go to Oz to get it.  We all go through ups and downs in our life.  There are moments when we feel like we can conquer anything and others where we feel bruised and battered.  Surprisingly for us fisherman, this sometimes gets us a little more when we have to take a skunkset picture.  Our best lure isn’t producing, things just kept going wrong, etc.  We lose our courage at times but we can get it back and have it stick with us longer if we follow the couple tips below.

1) Baby Steps.  Yep!  Take life at smaller chunks so that you can achieve them.  By breaking it down into bite size chunks you will have many successes behind you and will gain courage to go after your goals again!  

2) Be consistent!  This is one of the hardest things to do for most people.  But again, if you take baby steps you should be gaining the courage to be even more consistent.  Make a plan, put it on your to do list, write it in your calendar, whatever it takes just keep going and go after it.  The smaller chunks will help you be consistent and gain success!

3) “Fake it ‘till ya make it!” That’s right, fake your confidence!!  I actually tell my choir this quite a bit.  Why?  Because having confidence in yourself, in what you believe, and what you stand for will help you gain the courage to achieve what you want.  For us fisherman, sometimes we lose confidence in ourselves and baits that we use.  So you will have to dig deep and tell yourself you got it and hit the water again.  For me, I think of the other reasons I enjoy being on the water.  Being outside, enjoying the fresh air, look at the beautiful scenery, etc.  I enjoy other reasons to be outside.  But I don’t let it stop me.  I dig up the courage to head out again and fish again and catch fish.  I tell myself that “I’m going to catch a fish!” and leave with a positive attitude.  Even if I didn’t truly believe it, I faked it!  So I use other reasons to help me dig up the courage!

Hiking made Easy with these 2 Exercises

Hiking is a superb way to get you and your family outside in the fresh air AND burn calories.  This great workout can leave you sore and tired but that means you brought it!  Want to go farther and see what is past that last bend?  Then give these 2 workouts moves a go and build up your muscle and endurance so you can go the extra distance!

Jello Lunges

Ok, ok, the Jello sounds tasty but we aren’t eating it.  Instead we’re going to lunge through it!  Stand tall with feet shoulder length apart.  Raise your right foot slightly and balance on your left foot.  Keep your upper body straight and slowly bring your right foot backwards into a lunge,  Then raise your foot up slightly and slowly bring it back in.  The goal is to move slowly, like you would if you were moving through jello.  Keeping your foot raised is pretty tricky so feel free to drag your toe when you bring your foot in.  After you improve, just tap your foot when needed. Repeat the move 10 times and then switch legs.  

Get low N’ Get High

This move is exactly what it sounds like.  You’ll get low and then get high.  Stand tall with your legs a bit wider than shoulder length apart.  Squat down keeping you back straight.  Then jump up.  Use your arms to help bring you up.  When you land, try to go right back into the wide stance squat.  Repeat the squat jumps 20 times.  To intesify it, get lower, jump higher, and add reps.  If it’s really hard right away, then don’t squat down as low or jump as high.  But remember to push yourself.  If you don’t push yourself you won’t see results!

Hail, Pinch, and Fly - Glamour Muscles

It’s cold outside and many of us are starting to dream of warmer weather.  While we wait and try not to freeze let’s get our glamour muscles in shape and ready for Summer.  What are your glamour muscles?  Those would be your Shoulders, Bicep’s, and Triceps.  Not only will these 3 moves help sculpt your muscles you will find that paddling, casting, and lifting your kayak will become easier!

1) Hail to the Chief! This move I took straight from Tony Horton.  Grab a single lighter weight to start with.  You can always up if later if needed.  Lay on your back and hold the weight in your right hand.  Put your left arm by your side and extend your right arm and hand in front of you.  Keeping your upper arm (bicep/tricep area) straight up bend your elbow so the weight goes to left side of your face.  The goal is to pick a weight so you can do 6-12 reps.  Remember 6-8 reps build muscle and 8-12 helps tone.  You will want to feel the burn in the last two reps, so after your first time, adjust weights as needed.  Repeat the exercise with the weight in your left hand and your right arm by your side.  Be CAREFUL not to smash your face!

2) Fly baby Fly You’ll be feeling your shoulders after this move!  Grab some light weights.  And in this case, make sure they are light, like 3-5lbs.  Stand tall with your feet shoulder length apart.  With a weight in each hand raise both arms so they are parallel to the ground.  Keep your arms straight and not bent.  Lower them intentionally.  Then raise them up keeping a steady motion the entire time.  Again 6-8 reps help build muscle and 8-12 tones muscles.  

3) Twist N’ Pinch Yep, you read that right.  Let’s twist and pinch….your bicep!  Grab a medium weight.  Standing tall with one foot slightly in front of the other about shoulder length apart bring the weight in your right arm across your body.  It should come along your left side.  Keep your right elbow stationary, just bend it to allow the weight to move.  Then keep bringing the weight up until it is by your right pec.  As it reaches your pec start twisting your wrist bringing your pinky towards the inside.  Continue the curl until the weight is right by your bicep.  As you approach the highest point of the curl really twist your wrist causing the muscles to almost pinch each other.  Then untwist your wrist and bring the weight down going across the left side of you body. (tracing the way you brought it up)  Repeat the sequence with your left arm.  Again, 6-8 reps or 8-12 reps.