Surely, you’ve seen your fair share of donation requests circulating at the office or on facebook, requesting money to support a marathoner and the runner’s charity of choice. But even if you’re not the type to run races or sign up for triathlons, your sweat and tears at the gym or the park can count for something. Sign up for Plus3Network.com, which teams up corporate sponsors, worthy causes and people like you.

Log in every mile you walk, run, bike or swim and a penny or more will go to the charity of your choice. It may not sound like a lot right away, but at the time this post was written, a total of $19,622.25  has already been raised by Plus 3 Network. And individual corporations can make a big difference like sustainable footwear brand Ahnu, which has pledged $10,000 to The Conservation Alliance. Other eco-minded choices include Pedro’s, a sustainable bike care company, which is raising money for the Environmental Defense Fund and Trek Bicycles, which is raising money for the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Besides loving that Plus3Network.com helps raise money for great eco causes, we also love the extra motivation it provides to get moving and burn those calories! Even the simple act of tracking your workouts can bring motivation. Get your friends to sign up and they can see how much you’re sweating and raising. You can also form online teams and plan events to make it a fun way to keep yourself and the planet healthy.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

A lot of great eco brands make great eco shoes, but great fitness shoe brands are taking longer to catch on. For those who are fitness enthusiasts first and moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle second, the expectations for performance are higher. New Balance is answering the call with their first green shoe the New Balance 070.

The trail runner  boasts New Balance’s comfort and fit, but is made from recycled materials in a reduced waste design, meaning that as much of the original cutting material as possible is used because the elements are cut out in more of a puzzle shape. In this style, 75 percent of the upper elements are environmentally preferred materials like natural and recycled fabrics. The outsole is made of rick husk rubber and the insert is made of recycled materials. Another big eco issue with shoes is the glue used to keep it all together–here, New Balance uses water-based adhesives. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

The key to burning calories and getting fit isn’t an energy sucking gym. With the right tools and exercises, you can do it all in the open air. Swap treadmill or stationary bike workouts for a greener run or cycle outside. And get the Eco Exercise Body Toning Kit to keep your muscles in shape in the backyard. After all, don’t you feel healthier just breathing the fresh air?

Tone your abs, lower back and more with the exercise ball. It’s phthalate-free and non-toxic. You’ll also get an adjustable resistance tube that’s perfect for biceps curls, upright rows and the like along with an ankle tube so you can strengthen your legs as well. Both are made from natural latex with recycled plastic handles. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

As a NIKE Elite Athlete, spokesperson for Nintendo’s Wii Fit and celebrity fitness trainer, Ashley Borden spends a lot of time traveling around the country to get her job done, meeting with clients like Natasha Bedingfield, Ryan Gosling and Taraji P Henson. A fairly carbon-heavy lifestyle. But now, she’s making changes to reduce her carbon footprint and make her workouts more sustainable. Here, five of her top tips for greener fitness:

1. Buy workout wear in sustainable fabrics. Borden likes Patagonia’s Organic Cotton Serenity Capris for their soft, stretchy feel, adjustable fold-over waistline and unrestricted mobility.

2. Bike, don’t drive. One mile in a car equals up to one pound of carbon released into the atmosphere. If you’re into getting fit, why not power your ride and get fit on the way to the gym, right? Borden suggests biking to the gym once a week.

3. Have an exercise swap day. If you’re more of a home gym kind of person, you might get carried away buying the latest fitness gadgets and DVDs. Minimize and plan to swap with your friends instead. Everyone will buy less and once you’ve mastered every Jillian Micheals workout or grown tired of your Thigh Master, a friend can take it instead of the landfill. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

One of the most eco-friendly fitness activities around is running outside and this is the season to do it. The gym and all of the cardio equipment inside require a lot of energy to keep it going, while hitting the trail takes advantage of natural lighting and offers plenty of mileage to cover.

When you’re running, the right eco products can make your workout even more green. Lighten up your carbon footprint with a pair of eco-friendly sneakers. Brooks Glycerin 7 running shoes have laces that are made from 100 percent recycled products. What’s even more impressive is the biodegradable midsole BioMoGo. Traditional midsoles are made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which can last up to 1,000 years in a landfill! So Brooks added a compound to the new midsole that makes it biodegrade up to 50 times faster.

Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™