National Park Week

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

Group of young college students sitting on grass in the park

Are you bored with getting your exercise by strolling around the neighborhood or running at the local gym? The U.S. National Park Services has preserved vast pieces of American land that are the perfect places to get outside and be active, whether it’s the majestic Yellowstone National Park in the West or the lesser-known Big Bend National Park in Texas with its hundreds of bird species.

The opening weekend of National Park Week is April 19-20, and both days are get-in-free days. Visit www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm to find a park near you or to plan a trip. With great scenery and many options, you can choose a park where you can enjoy a quiet stroll, a vigorous hike, a bike ride, or a horse ride. You can also find spots to go rock climbing and swimming.

With more than 400 spots around the nation, the national parks are some of the best pieces of American nature and history. What better way to get your family outside and moving in the spring air than by visiting a national park?

Reboot Your Workout

Posted on by TP Mechanical

bigstock-Running-sport--trail-runners--47575639It’s very common to fall out of a fitness routine, especially at this time of year. Everyone has their excuses: holiday schedule changes, bad winter weather, injury or illness, failed New Year’s resolution, etc.

Regardless of the reason, you need to get back in the habit. Now is a perfect time to recommit to achieving and maintaining a prime fitness level. But before you start to pick up where you left off, be mindful of the following things:

  1. Start slow. Do not try to make up for lost time. Depending on the length of time since your last workout and the reason for stopping, you might not want to resume working out at the same level you were at when you stopped. Rather, decrease your exertion by 20 to 30 percent and gradually build your way back up.
  2. Choose an activity you like. Enjoying your workouts is a must. If you find cardio preferable to weight lifting, focus on that. The goal during the first month is to get moving, whichever way you choose.
  3. Recruit a buddy. Grab a friend to join you. Adding a partner to your workouts can boost your commitment and give you someone to discuss fitness with, and the two of you can keep each other motivated.
  4. Track every workout. Charting your workouts is a great way to watch yourself steadily improve and to stay motivated. Small fitness milestones give you a series of short-term goals to reach as you work towards your overall goals.

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN