How Green is Your Exercise Routine?
Whatever form of exercise you enjoy, is it a green workout?
These 10 green tips will help you to make your exercise routine even more eco friendly.
You’ll also save time and money, and these changes are easy to make – what’s not to love?
A green workout is free! If the weather is fine, exercise outside – it’s free. Did you know that outdoor exercise makes you less fatigued, more relaxed, and gives a more lasting energy boost compared to indoor exercise?
A Green Workout doesn’t use water bottles. If you buy bottled water for your exercise, stop right now! Bottled water has a massive environmental impact, and is often nothing more than tap water (despite what the marketing tells you). In blind tests, people consistently can’t tell the difference.
It’s also vastly more expensive than tap water. Even if you filter your tap water, it’s still hugely cheaper than bottled. 
And it’s more convenient – no more bottles cluttering up your home.
Only 23% of plastic bottles are recycled in the USA. That means that almost 40 billion bottles go into landfills each year – that is a HUGE amount. Do your bit by not buying plastic water bottles.
A green workout and water: Do you bring water with you when you exercise? You might not need to. If you go to a gym, they probably have water there. Of if you exercise in a park, there may be a water fountain. Look around.
If you do bring your own water, make sure it’s in a recyclable bottle. There are lots of different styles to choose from – personally I like steel ones – they’re recycled, light, sturdy and hygienic.
A green workout does not include Designer Waters. Yes, they contain minerals and vitamins, but they’re also outrageously overpriced. Simply add some berries, cucumber, mint or other herbs to a jug or pitcher of water, and keep it in your fridge. Same benefits, miles cheaper, and none of the nasty additives.
A green workout means you shower with care. Use biodegradable body products. In many countries you can buy biodegradable body wash and shampoo in bulk, which will save you money and decrease bottle use. Then, fill them into smaller, personal-use size reusable bottles, so you only have to carry a small amount to the gym.
A green workout showers with MASH – watch a fun, short video on the best way to shower….
A green workout avoids certain machines. Gym machines consume energy, but one more than all the others. Which one? The treadmill. Save the planet (and your knees) and use it less often. Try other machines and weights.
A green workout uses a local gym – if you can walk to gym from either home or work, you’ll save a fortune in parking fees, save car emissions, and get a well-balanced workout too.
A green workout curbs consumerism. Do you work out better in the latest designer gear? Of course not. (And all you do is sweat all over the clothes anyway). If you want to buy, look for gear made from recycled materials, or from genuinely organic materials. Or check out local, upscale thrift shops. (Green tip: The best days to find great clothes are Mondays and Tuesdays after people have given clothing over the weekend). Thrift shops can be a bit hit and miss sometimes, so you may need to visit them more than once. Or just wear an old t-shirt and shorts.
A green workout doesn’t buy into the latest fad or gizmo craze. You KNOW that exercising and eating healthily are the best ways – some fad that will last a few weeks is not worth your money (you’ll want to sell it for half-nothing after it’s taken up space in your home for a year!).
A green workout changes. Need a change of routine? If you want to do some different exercises for a change, find great quality, popular used home workout DVDs at less than half price on Amazon or eBay and even less at Thrift stores and Oxfam shops. (Just last weekend I went to our local animal rescue thrift shop and found an amazing variety of top quality exercise DVDs selling for almost nothing).
You’ll leave a smaller carbon footprint and leave more money in your wallet too.
Want even more ways to green your exercise routine? 6 more here: Green Exercise
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When I played squash there was always a water fountain available for free. Never ever saw people carrying what is now a fashion item bottle of water. And clothes – well we just have to have the latest gear for the season………! Good hints and tips as usual Clare – still don’t know where you get it all from.
Great tips … I especially like the one about the treadmill. I get that people want to use them when the weather is bad but I’ve never understood why people choose to be in a stinky room when the weather is nice and they can be outside, breathing fresh air. Also, a treadmill doesn’t provide as good of a workout as running or walking outside where we have to avoid obstacles and rely on balance. Thanks for a wonderful post!
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I used to drive to the gym until I figured how much I was wasting in gym fees and gas. By staying home I saved driving a total of 3120 miles in the last year…which is a lot of gas, tires and brakes. Now I workout in my basement. It stays cool in summer, and in winter I just add an extra layer and workout a little harder to stay warm!
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