FIVE REASONS TO EXERCISE OUTDOORS

1. It’s free!
Forget that pricey gym membership and costly kit at home. Exercising outdoors, such as running or using the park as your gym, won’t cost you a penny.

2. It’ll up your Vitamin D intake
More and more of us are spending our days indoors, meaning we’re depriving our bodies of vitamin D, which is key to our good health.

3. It burns more calories
Research conducted by the University of Essex shows that outdoor exercise burns up to a fifth more calories than exercising indoors because the body using up more energy trying to overcome natural elements like wind, heat and rain as well as working harder to keep the body warm.

4. It’s family friendly
Take your kids with you to the park and play with them. If they’d rather go on the roundabout on their own, then don’t waste your time sitting on a bench, do some lunges and running while you wait and get other mums involved as well.

5. It’s better for the environment
You can run around the park or your local streets easily, which means you won’t have to get in the car. Make full use of your local area by using the benches and walls to do stretches, push-ups and jogging without the need for weights or machines.