{"id":3003,"date":"2021-05-18T14:03:02","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T13:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=3003"},"modified":"2021-07-08T10:06:14","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T09:06:14","slug":"welcome-back-to-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/welcome-back-to-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"4 of the best outdoor sports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Taking small steps towards a more active lifestyle is fantastic for your all-round health and fitness \u2013 and it\u2019s even better when you do it outside. Studies show that moving more in the great outdoors can help to reduce stress, improve our mood and even boost our motivation to be more active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The great news is that there\u2019s a whole world of outdoor sports to help you have fun \u2013 and get fit! \u2013 in the fresh air. Whether you\u2019re looking to take your favourite game outside or give something new a go, we\u2019ve got lots of top tips and ideas to help you get out there. Let\u2019s take a look at the outdoor sports that are helping <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\">our members<\/a> to smash their Body Magic goals\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MORE FOR MEMBERS: You\u2019ll find practical help to build an active lifestyle on the exclusive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\">member website<\/a>, including easy activity ideas, workout videos for all levels and inspiring member stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for trying a new activity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If you\u2019re new to exercise, it\u2019s best to start slowly. The first step is to move a little bit more than usual \u2013 even if that\u2019s 5-10 minutes of gentle activity a day.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Doing something you enjoy will make it much more likely that you\u2019ll want to keep doing it. If you try a sport or activity and it\u2019s not for you, don\u2019t be put off \u2013 just give something else a go instead.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Many of our members are motivated by working towards Body Magic awards. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-body-magic\/\">You can find out more about our science-based activity programme and the benefits it can bring here.<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Exercise doesn\u2019t have to leave you exhausted and dripping with sweat! If it makes you breathe faster, feel warmer and increases your heart rate, then it\u2019ll give your health and wellbeing a boost!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Doing something regularly is the key to making it a lasting habit. Joining a sports team, booking a court in advance or making arrangements to exercise with a friend (where restrictions allow) are great ways to lock in that regular commitment.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Don\u2019t worry about what you wear. There\u2019s no need to kit yourself out in expensive sports gear, feeling comfortable is the most important thing.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If you\u2019d like to try an activity that requires specific equipment, ask the facility if there\u2019s a hire option available. You can always invest later if you decide that it\u2019s the sport for you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/move-body-magic-barriers\/\">MORE ON THE BLOG: Removing your Body Magic barriers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Slimming World members get moving!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Get your kicks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Joining a sports team is a fantastic way to boost motivation and make a commitment to getting active. And you don\u2019t have to take it too seriously \u2013 there are plenty of amateur teams who have a \u2018just for fun\u2019 approach to playing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ellen (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/slimmingworld_ells\/\">@slimmingworld_ells<\/a>) couldn\u2019t wait to get back to training and playing with her local football team. She says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFootball is back! It\u2019s like Christmas day! So excited to get back on the pitch!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/EllenV2-OutdoorSports-SlimmingWorldBlog-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Slimming World member football\" class=\"wp-image-3011\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Family time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing sports with the kids is a great opportunity to get them enjoying being active. You can check online to see what activities indoor facilities near you are offering and then set aside time to try an activity together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jo (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jo_sw_mission\/\">@jo_sw_mission<\/a>), who\u2019s lost 4st 9\u00bdlbs with Slimming World, took her tribe to the local leisure centre for a good-humoured game of badminton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/JoBlog-OutdoorSports-SlimmingWorldBlog-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"Slimming World member playing badminton\" class=\"wp-image-2985\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make a splash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve got a water sports facilities nearby, then things like kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding are definitely on the Body Magic menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slimming World members Ben and Chloe (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/benandchloe_fitnessjourney\/\">@benandchloe_fitnessjourney<\/a>) combined a stand-up paddle-boarding session with a very cold swim \u2013 an invigorating way to get active, if you\u2019re brrr-ave enough!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ChloeBen-OutdoorSports-SlimmingWorldBlog.jpg\" alt=\"Slimming World member paddleboarding\" class=\"wp-image-2986\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Something different<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t think of yourself as a \u2018sporty person\u2019, there are lots of ways to get active that mean moving more while enjoying yourself. Outdoor sports facilities, including golf courses, sports courts, riding centres and water sports venues are great places to get active \u2013 and have fun at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019d like to start off with something that\u2019s not hugely strenuous, a round of golf will help you clock up plenty of steps and give those muscles a gentle workout. Or, go for something really different like our member Jo who combined football and golf for a fun game of foot golf!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/JoBlog2-Outdoorsports-SlimmingWorldBlog-copy-3.jpg\" alt=\"Slimming World member playing footgolf\" class=\"wp-image-2989\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MORE FOR MEMBERS: You\u2019ll find lots of Body Magic information and inspiration on the <a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/\">exclusive member website<\/a>, including\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Building your steps to activity<br>From lockdown to slimdown: A new Body Magic groove<br>The unsporty person\u2019s guide to getting fit<br>Get started with Body Magic<br>Getting active outdoors<br>Plus lots more!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/\">Find out more about joining Slimming World here.&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*If you\u2019re planning to start a new exercise programme, we recommend you check with your GP first \u2013 especially if you have an existing health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma. If you\u2019re pregnant, check the suitability of the exercise with your midwife.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Picking up a racket, having a kick-about, making a splash\u2026 there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy \u2013 and these are the sports our members love the most<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[14],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3003"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}