When I lived in New York City, exercising indoors at a gym was essential because of the weather and elements. Now that I live in a climate where it is warm and mostly sunny 10 months out of the year, I am taking advantage of being outside.

I spend alot of time in a chair for my job.  Sitting is one of the worst positions for our body’s mechanics.  As Dr. Frank Lipman tells us in Revive, “Sitting actually atrophies our walking muscles. Lower back pain, neck pain carpal tunnel syndrome, and knee pain can often be traced back to sitting. Sitting too much changes out natural posture, joint mechanics, and ability to use the muscles.”

I am making a concentrated effort to get up and move each hour at work, even if it’s only for a brisk walk around our floor or outside our building downtown. I have recently started walking for an hour a day in my neighborhood.  To be outside in nature and fresh air moving nonstop for an hour feels great.  I never imagined that a low-impact aerobic exercise could refresh and invigorate me like this does. I have a friend who has been doing this for years and after working out “indoors” for so many years, I have a new found appreciation for it.

Our bodies are designed to walk.   Brisk walking keeps our muscles engaged , blood flowing, improves our mood, and stimulates the lymphatic system. Walking while looking at the world is much more preferable to being inside on a machine with no fresh air.  And if you want a little jumpstart to get you moving, here is a creamy chocolate energy smoothie that will get your motor running.

When you are looking for a pick-me-up,  look no further than this energy smoothie for a “super-jazzy buzz.”  Made with cacao for zing,  sweetened with dates and banana for energy. It is full of omegas and potassium to make you glow.  xo

Super Cacao-Coconut Energizer
adapted from Ani Phyo’s  “Raw Food Essentials”

1 frozen banana
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1/4 cup almonds (I soak mine overnight before using)
2 tablespoons fresh ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons shredded coconut (not the sweetened baking coconut)
2 pitted dates
1 tablespoon liquid coconut oil
1 cup spinach or your green of choice *
1/4  – 1/2 cup sprouts
1 cup of water or almond milk

Place all ingredients in high-speed blender and blend until smooth.  If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you may want to first grind the almonds for a smoother consistency.

* note – I use alot more than 1 cup of greens, more like 3- I pack my vitamix with them; I also add carrots and cabbage to this one.  All hide amazingly well in this drink.