How To Green Your Workout

You may be doing the grocery shopping with reusable bags or have stopped using harsh chemicals to clean with at home, but how green is your workout?  Here are 5 ideas to get you in the right direction:

1.  Use your own water bottle -- Help reduce waste by reducing the plastic bottles.  There are so many great stainless steel bottles, including some that even have a water filter built in.  Purchasing a nice eco-friendly water bottle is a great way to stay motivated and keep hydrated as well!

2.  Wear eco lovely threads -- There are so many comfortable and affordable exercise clothes out there made from organic cotton or bamboo, definitely spread your shopping wings and look around.  Not only are the clothes typically softer and more comfy than regular fabrics, but bamboo also has anti bacterial qualities that are awesome for those clothes that get extra "use" in our workouts.

3.  Be a wise equipment shopper -- Look a little harder next time you make a fitness equipment purchase and see if you can find a company who makes its products from recycled materials.  It's worth the extra effort to support these companies.

4.  Recycle the sole -- Nike has a program called Reuse-A-Shoe where you can drop off up to 10 pairs of shoes at a time at locations around the U.S. for recycling.  They are being used in playgrounds, basketball courts and even Nike products.  Great way to reduce waste and know your well loved soles are going somewhere good.

5.  Make your own energy bars -- Many of the energy bars on the market have tons of fillers and preservatives, and those that don't are pricey and hard to find.  Making your own granola bars packed with seeds and nuts to give you the fab protien you're craving, is a healthy and green alternative.  Just say "no" to the chemicals in the processed bars, your gut will thank you.  You can find a yummy recipe for granola bars at Gluten Free Girl.