How to get in shape close to home

This could be the time to revive our New Year?s resolutions. The lilacs are in bloom, the temperatures are rising and it feels good to go outdoors.One way you might be able to move toward your fitness goals is by walking. On the North Shore, there are quite a few scenic places to walk. If you like nature, there is the Lynn Woods Reservation. Its entrances at Pennybrook Road and Great Woods Road feature differing terrain.?For walkers, on Great Woods Road, if you start walking on the left side, immediately there?s a big hill to negotiate,” Lynn Woods Summer Cross Country Races founder Joe Abelon said. “If you?re not in shape, it can be stressful. Pennybrook is more rolling and gentle, especially on the main road.” However, Abelon said that at Great Woods Road, “once you?re over the first big hill, it?s a fairly comfortable walk.”You can do your own “out and back” course — I suggest bringing a map and keeping an eye on the signage. And enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. We?ve heard cardinals and spring peepers out there.If you like sea breezes, ocean waves and the Boston skyline, Kings Beach makes for a relaxing walk. And if you?re looking to get in shape by jogging, the generally flat paths might make a good introduction as opposed to the hillier, more rugged terrain of Lynn Woods.?When you run, you want to get your muscles acclimated gently,” Abelon said. “Hills are a stress. You want to avoid too much, too soon. Ease into your workout on flats.”The question might arise as to which is a preferable exercise – walking versus running.?You can lose weight through diet and exercise,” Abelon said. “Walking burns off calories. Running, you lose more energy and burn more calories. But there are a lot of forces when you land. You need proper shoes. It?s not for everybody. It can cause aches, pains and injuries.”Abelon said that people should “be under a doctor?s permission to start exercising. Walking is more gentle.” He also recommended cycling and swimming as lower-impact alternatives.Whether you walk, run, bike or swim, I wish everyone good luck in progressing toward their fitness goals this spring.