Sometimes it is fun to go for a weekend walk. The nice part about weekends is that you can take a ride out to somewhere pretty and really take the time to enjoy the scenery. One natural area around Aurora is Silver Springs State Park, which has 2.6 miles of trails that you can try out. The Fox River runs through this park, adding to the scenery. The atmosphere here is very relaxed, so it can be a good place to get away and experience nature while getting a little exercise in. If you can enjoy the trip, you will be more likely to feel enthusiastic about exercising, so this type of escape can be a terrific motivator.
Shabbona State Park is also a little drive from Aurora–but worth the trip. Although Shabbona Lake is man-made, the scenery here is nature at its best, featuring grasslands, marsh, ponds and streams. You can see the lake for much of this hike, and it provides some nice inspiration. The trail is 4.9 miles, but don’t feel as though you need to do the entire loop. Pace yourself and do a little bit at a time. You may want to invest in a pedometer and gradually set increased step goals for yourself each weekend instead of trying to push through a large portion all at one time. That way you can track your progress and feel good about your accomplishments as you gain strength and endurance.