{"id":152398,"date":"2026-01-28T00:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T00:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/152398\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T00:03:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T00:03:22","slug":"op-ed-long-beachs-best-fitness-resource-isnt-a-gym-its-outside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/152398\/","title":{"rendered":"Op-Ed: Long Beach\u2019s Best Fitness Resource Isn\u2019t a Gym \u2014 It\u2019s Outside"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bio: Jay Romero, owner and head coach of Jaycromero Fitness<\/a>, a full-service personal training and nutrition coaching studio based in Signal Hill, California. As a Long Beach personal trainer, Jay provides one-on-one coaching, customized nutrition coaching, and lifestyle support to help clients build strength, lose fat, and maintain long-term results.<\/p>\n

Long Beach residents don\u2019t need another fitness trend. What many people need instead are realistic, low-pressure ways to support their health amid long workdays, family obligations, and rising stress.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, one of the city\u2019s most effective health resources is already in place: its outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n

From waterfront walking paths to neighborhood parks and greenways, Long Beach offers accessible opportunities for physical activity that do not require a gym membership, specialized equipment, or large blocks of free time. These spaces support not only physical health, but also mental well-being \u2014 an increasingly important concern for busy urban residents.<\/p>\n

\"\"A couple walks thier dogs near the bike path at Shoreline Village that has a view of the Queen Mary on June 7, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

As a personal trainer based in Signal Hill, I work with Long Beach residents who want to feel healthier but feel stretched thin. The most common barrier I see is not a lack of motivation. It is fatigue. When exercise feels complicated, time-consuming, or intense, it is often the first habit to disappear.<\/p>\n

Outdoor movement works because it lowers that barrier.<\/p>\n

What the Data Shows<\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week<\/a> to experience meaningful health benefits \u2014 just over 20 minutes per day.<\/p>\n

Meeting that guideline has been linked to lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, <\/a>improved sleep quality, better long-term weight management, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Walking, in particular, is one of the most extensively studied forms of physical activity. Research summarized by Harvard Health shows that about 30 minutes of walking per day is associated with a 26% lower risk of depression.<\/a><\/p>\n

These benefits do not require intensity. They require consistency.<\/p>\n

Where Long Beach Residents Can Actually Go<\/p>\n

Residents do not need to search for the \u201cperfect\u201d place. Familiar, convenient locations are often the most effective.<\/p>\n

Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath<\/p>\n

\"\"The Long Beach 5K Marathon took place on Oct. 5, 2025 with participants running by Junipero Beach from Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive to Shoreline Drive and Linden Avenue. (Justin Enriquez | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Stretching along the coastline near Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor, this flat, paved path supports walking at nearly any pace. A 10\u201320 minute out-and-back walk before or after work can meaningfully reduce stress and improve focus.<\/p>\n

Recreation Park<\/p>\n

\"\"An aerial view of children playing before a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of the Recreation Park Playground on June 14, 2022. The Recreation Park bandshell can be seen in the upper left corner, close enough for parents to watch their children from the benches. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Located near Cal State Long Beach, Recreation Park offers looping walkways, shade, and benches. It works well for short walks or light movement without requiring planning.<\/p>\n

El Dorado East Regional Park<\/p>\n

\"\"A couple walk with their dog another the edge of the water at the El Dorado Duck Pond on April 11, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

With wide paths and open green space, El Dorado allows residents to choose quiet routes or slightly longer walks. Many people use a single loop \u2014 roughly 15\u201325 minutes \u2014 as a repeatable routine.<\/p>\n

Walkable neighborhood routes<\/p>\n

\"\"An aerial view of some of the houses within the newly formed Nehyam Historic District along the 6000 block of Walnut Avenue in North Long Beach on March 16, 2022. Most of the homes on this block are from the 1920s and \u201930s in the minimalist traditional style. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

For many residents, the most effective option is the simplest: a familiar loop around their own block. Research shows that reducing decision-making increases follow-through.<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Outdoor Movement Is Easier to Maintain<\/p>\n

Outdoor movement removes many of the psychological barriers that prevent people from staying active. There is no setup, no performance pressure, and no sense of failure if the session is short.<\/p>\n

Studies consistently show that people are more likely to maintain physical activity when it feels accessible and low-stress. In practical terms, walking outside several times per week for short durations is more beneficial than attempting an intense routine that is difficult to sustain.<\/p>\n

Long Beach\u2019s layout supports this approach unusually well.<\/p>\n

Mental Health Benefits That Matter<\/p>\n

Outdoor movement is not only physical. Research cited by the National Institutes of Health shows that time spent outdoors can positively influence brain regions involved in stress regulation and emotional control<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a city as fast-paced as Long Beach, outdoor spaces provide something increasingly scarce: a pause. Stepping outside, even briefly, allows residents to disconnect from screens, traffic, and constant demands.<\/p>\n

For many people, this also helps rebuild a healthier relationship with movement. Exercise is often framed as obligation or punishment. Walking outdoors reframes it as support \u2014 something that restores energy rather than depletes it.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line<\/p>\n

Long Beach already has the infrastructure to support healthier living. Sidewalks, parks, and waterfront paths are woven into the city\u2019s daily rhythm.<\/p>\n

When residents begin to view these spaces not as scenery but as tools for health, they become powerful and accessible resources.<\/p>\n

Better health does not require drastic change. According to the data, it often begins with 20 minutes of movement, practiced consistently \u2014 right outside your front door.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bio: Jay Romero, owner and head coach of Jaycromero Fitness, a full-service personal training and nutrition coaching studio…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":152399,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[131,133,132],"class_list":{"0":"post-152398","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-long-beach","8":"tag-long-beach","9":"tag-long-beach-headlines","10":"tag-long-beach-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}