Workout Update: Day 2 of Week 1 (in the Sun!)

April 13, 2010 in Workout

Hello!

Just got back from my workout today! My goal today was to run 1 minute and walk 1 minute alternating for 20 minutes. Instead of working out on the treadmill in the stuffy gym, I decided to run/walk outside by Lake Michigan. The sunshine was amazing! I think I got a bit of a tan just from 20 minutes of sun exposure today. The importance of getting sun exposure is underestimated and often discouraged for fear of skin cancer (this concept likely has been made popular by sunscreen manufacturers, in my opinion). The truth is that human beings need the sun’s UV-B rays to manufacture vitamin D, an essential vitamin found in fatty fish (especially cod, herring, and catfish), eggs, and dairy. According to the U.S. News and World Report on Health, you need anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes in the sun in shorts and a tank top everyday – depending on how fair or dark your skin is. Sun through the window doesn’t count! (Glass blocks beneficial UV-B rays.)

This exposure will enable the production of Vitamin D, which prevents several diseases “including osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. What’s more, sunlight has other hidden benefits—like protecting against depression, insomnia, and an overactive immune system” (“Time in the Sun”).

Like most Americans (especially those living in the Midwest), I don’t get nearly enough sunlight. So, I felt really good about my 20 minutes of exposure today.

But for some reason, this workout got me more tired than yesterday’s workout on the elliptical. The first 12 minutes or so were a breeze, but I started breaking a sweat after that. I noticed something interesting: for the first half of my workout, during my “running minute,” I felt tired or started to remember to look at my stopwatch 30 seconds into the minute. In the second half of my workout, I looked at my watch 45 seconds into the minute. In other words, in the second half of my workout, 45 seconds started to feel more like only 30 seconds of running! Another thing I noticed is that my knees hurt a bit in the beginning, but got better as I continued my workout.

I’m on track with my workout this week so far, but unfortunately, it will be hard to stay consistent from Thursday to Monday because I will be travelling. I may have to change some things around, but I’ll keep you updated!

Tags: running, sun, UV-B exposure, vitamin D, walking, Workout

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2 thoughts on “Workout Update: Day 2 of Week 1 (in the Sun!)”

Nina says:

15 April, 2010 at 6:23 am

I absolutely agree! I love soaking in the sun every chance I get. Beware though, I recently got for the very first time in my life a bad reaction to the sun. So always wear a reasonable sunscreen (Avene seems the best, feels like light makeup)

Love from za mazarland

5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day… Everyday! « My Life in a Pyramid says:

23 April, 2010 at 2:36 am

[...] of thinking of conserving energy as a chore, think of it as a license to enjoy more of nature and get some sunlight. This is really much better for your health anyway: More and more research is finding that a lack [...]