You know, not enough people talk about the wonders of the Great Indoors.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the Great Outdoors, we just think the indoor life deserves a little more love.
Especially when it comes to personal fitness – so often you see health junkies talking about all their hikes and camping and whatnot, but what if you aren’t the outdoorsy type? Don’t you also deserve the chance to live healthy?
We think so! That’s why we’ve put together this list of 7 reasons why indoor workouts rock!
#1 – No Weather
Admit it: you’ve cancelled plans because of the weather.
Maybe you’ve cut class because you wanted to be outside in the sun, or maybe you’ve called into a “sick” day at work because you didn’t want to deal with the rain.
In any case, you know that weather can be such a make-or-break factor when you plan out your day.
Which is a bit of a problem…because consistency is the key to any successful fitness plan.
Now you might be telling yourself you’ll just swap out your outdoor workouts on rainy days, but why take the chance? You’ll have a much easier time establishing your workout habit if you stick to a weather-proof option.
Which leads into our next reason…
#2 – It’s Easier to Build a Habit
We talk a lot about the importance of healthy HABITS – not just the occasional healthy choice.
Well, research shows that our brains pay a lot of attention to our environment when forming habits. So, one of the best ways to make a habit stick is to carry out that habit in a consistent environment.
That’s part of the reason why the fitness boot camp model has proven so successful – it gives people a consistent environment to support them forming the healthy habit of working out 2-3 times a week.
Don’t get us wrong, the outdoors are great, but they sure can be messy. Again, weather can be a problem, but that’s just the start of it. What if one day a big noisy construction site turns up in the middle of your jogging path? Not an ideal situation for habit forming, is it?
#3 – It’s Safer
There’s always some possibility of injuries when you’re working out, especially if you’re always mixing up your workout routine and pushing for real results (like how we’re always recommending).
That’s part of why it’s such a good idea to workout indoors with a group – on the off chance you get an injury you’ll have people just a few feet away who are ready to help.
#4 – Allergies Aren’t an Issue
Granted, allergies aren’t a problem for everyone, but anyone who does live with allergies can tell you that they’re a huge pain. We even know people who only have to step outside for 5 minutes before their eyes puff up and their skin start itching like crazy.
Does that sound familiar to any of you? Have those exact symptoms killed your workout groove before?
Then that’s all the more reason to switch to an indoor program! Why even give the allergies a chance?
#5 – Bugs Won’t Bug You
Biggest pet peeve about the outdoors: insects.
The occasional mosquito bite would be bad enough, but on top of that you’ve got flies.
Flies that are inexplicably curious about your face while you’re just trying to have a nice run.
Gross.
Don’t have to worry about them indoors though!
#6 – No Unexpected Audience
Ever catch someone watching you while you work out?
So annoying isn’t it? You’re just trying to stay healthy – you don’t need anyone’s judgment.
That’s another nice thing about working inside – there’s less chance of random strangers showing up to watch you.
AND, if you sign up for a boot camp program like hours, you’ll end up working out with the same people every week. That way you’ll have time to get to know everyone and feel more comfortable with the group!
#7 – You Can Work Out in Your Socks
For real! You can work out in your socks – in our boot camps we actually prefer that over shoes!
Besides, many fitness experts point out that working out in your socks is a lot healthier for your feet. In fact, you can ever buy socks that are specially designed for working out.
But most importantly, working out in your socks is SO FUN! Seriously, you HAVE to try it if you haven’t already.
