Take a moment to think....

...and then trust yourself. Whether you find yourself in a controlled gym environment or the boundless outdoors, strength training is nothing more than thoughtful movement with the addition of resistance. Simplify the spectrum of upper body movements into 2 categories: PUSHING & PULLING. Now think....look around you. Push movements will emphasize chest and arms, while pull movements will emphasize back and arms. Gym equipment, while difficult to make sense of visually sometimes, will always make clear whether the primary function is a PUSH movement, or a PULL movement.

Now what happens when you're outside, say, combining a run with some resistance sets? Think. An obvious and always effective exercise would be a push-up. But what if you're tired of push-ups and want to try something different? Well, a soft patch of grass will allow you to perform any number of isometric plank variations for your core. Why not just use the ground beneath you to perform a set of slow squats? Try 1 legged squats if you want to up the ante. That bench over there is perfect for tricep dips, incline/decline(feet on the bench/hands on the ground) push-ups or step-ups. The sturdy tree limb over there can act as a chin-up bar. Stairs can be a tremendous way of accomplishing significant strength and cardio work. Try bounding up the steps, using every 3rd or 4th step. A curb next to a sign post is a great place to do toe raises for your calves. The sign post will allow you to keep your balance.

Simplify. Break it down to fundamental movements. Pretty soon, you'll be able to look at any environment and see the potential for effective exercises. Just take a moment to think, and then trust yourself.

 -B