Casey Camilleri

By Casey Camilleri

I’ve always been pretty in shape.  I blame this on how often I played sports and spent time outside while I was growing up.  First it was baseball then came basketball and I settled with golf.  I liked playing golf more so than the other sports for a few reasons.

• It was something that I could do by myself or with others.
• My performance was completely up to me (mentally and physically).
• It was always challenging.  There was always something I could improve on.

After playing golf for over ten years I started doing what every 9 to 5′er typically resorts to, the gym.  It’s easy to put off the gym because it’s not as thrilling as it is to play a sport.  Taking classes definitely helps but those can get extreme and you can burn out easily.

Now that summer is here I’ve moved on to hiking while also keeping the gym on the side just in case the sun goes down before I can get a hike in.  Living in the Bay Area there are so many trails around me it’s insane.  I use a website called BAHiker to look at all the hiking trails I can choose from.

I take my iPhone with me and use an app called MapMyRun.  I also take pictures of the scenery.  It’s all about taking in your surroundings and slowing down in life.  It’s my own personal time out from the day to day chaos of life.

There are a few trails that make is easy to hike alone but most trails are best with a friend.  I highly recommend you try a hiking trail one day.  You’re in the outdoors, getting fresh air, connecting with nature and it’s mixing up your workout regime.  I went back into the gym after a few weeks of hiking and I found I could push myself further now.

I read that it’s also very important to concentrate on your breathing.  The positive health effects are much more than you would think.  I had no idea that when you practice breathing deeply and combine that with physical activity such as running, weight lifting, whatever it may be it is just as benefitical to you as the physical activity that you are doing.

A goal of mine I’ve set out is each time I workout I lose around 400 calories. If I do that 4 times a week then I’ll be down around 1 pound.  That requires around 1 hour 4 times a week.  You can either use those 4 hours a week to get in exercise or continue to make excuses and sit in front of the TV for 6-10 hours a week.  It’s your decision all you have to do is change the way you look at it.

Is making this change worth it to you?  How will you benefit?  How will it hurt you if you don’t make this change?  Start asking yourself these questions today to turn fitness into a habit for your life.