What"s 'Plogging?' Find Out About this Fitness Trend
By Sandy Schroeder
When you know you have a great neighborhood and community that you want to keep clean, and you do your best to stay fit, you may be just right for “plogging.” The idea is to carry a trash bag with you to scoop up trash when you are out running.
The word “plogging” is a combination of the Swedish words “pick up” and “run.” The Swedes suggest it as a way to “work up a sweat, raise the heart rate, and help save the environment.” It’s basically like going on a treasure hunt during a workout, except the treasure is the satisfaction of cleaning up discarded plastic bottles and food wrappers and becoming more fit.
If you are having a little trouble picturing yourself loping along clutching a trash bag, you might consider doing a regular run, pausing for a break, and then doing a shorter run, picking up trash, and heading for home.
Advocates of "plogging" say it can actually resemble interval training, too as cardio bursts are punctuated with brief pauses to reach down to pick up trash.
More Possibilities to Consider
Getting everyone involved to stay active and keep the community cleaner lends itself to a lot of variations.
Walking instead of running – Making it a family walk could be as satisfying as helping out at the local animal shelter, or working in the local library. Everybody gets some exrcise and helps clean up.
Focus for fundraisers – If you are involved in community organizations and fundraisers, the double-barreled fitness and environment focus could be a good spring project for an all-day walk-around event.
When I read about this idea, it reminded me of the beach clean-ups that my family and I have done for years. At the end of the day we were hot and tired, and covered with sand, but it felt great to know we helped to keep the beach clean, and everybody got a good workout, walking, bending and stretching.
However it works for you, if you like the idea of keeping your neighborhood and your community cleaner while you stay fit, you may want to head out there with your trash bag and join the fun. People are already using a #plogging hashtag to show how much trash they have collected.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brea, Calif.