Motley Health

So we are in the official full swing of summer. This is when I start making my mental list of all the things I want to do while the weather is so incredibly beautiful+but how can I complain ever living in the lovely paradise of Southern California? But indeed, I have a few things I like to do every summer and most of them include being in the pleasant outdoors. Summer is also a great time for making new memories with perhaps someone you just met as it is possibly the most romantic time of the year. Sunsets and more skin get the heart pumping and the mind racing. But perhaps you can continue the higher heart rate by giving your dates this summer a fitness twist (which is also a good way to find out if your new flame is as excited about health and physical activity as you are!).

first fitness

Dinner and a movie+seriously?
I must admit I have never understood this one. Eating is great and being a foodie myself, I must admit, I love to do it (intelligently), but going out to dinner for a date can be a little cliché (and these days pretty pricey if that is the main event). Going to the movies and not even getting to talk to each other? In the dark? On a beautiful night? When there are stars to be seen outside? Don’t just eat and sit indoors, do something that you can both agree upon in advance or take turns showing each other activities that are interesting to you. Go on a hike on a cool summer Sunday morning and then have a picnic lunch. Walk the dog around the bay. Take a moonlit stroll on the beach or rents bikes on the boardwalk.

All of these activities help you to loosen up and be yourself so that you can put your best foot forward instead of trying to make polite conversation over overpriced wine at a stuffy restaurant. By choosing something you already like to do or have always wanted to do puts you at ease so that you are confident enough to tell you ‘cool” stories that relate to the activity that you are doing…like the time that you rode your bike through Tuscany when you were 20 or when you volunteered at the animal shelter because of your passion for dogs.

So as we all know, exercise increases testosterone levels which increase libido, just a delicious side+effect of the outdoor activity dates which can maybe lead to a second and a third date?
And once you have gotten more comfortable and established with someone in particular, you may even be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try a ballroom dancing class (oh come on you know you are a closeted Dancing with the Stars fan), a yoga session or take scuba diving lessons together. This can increase your attraction toward one another as doing new things together can increase the chemicals that make humans bond with one another.

So get out of the house off your ass and try something new! You will burn some calories and maybe get burned by the flame of love too if you’re lucky.