Moving inside and out
In winter you often tend to stay nice and warm by the stove. However, you will often feel fitter if you continue to exercise and exercise. Don’t mind the cold weather and get moving!
Even if the temperature has dropped and there’s more rain (or snow) than sun, that doesn’t mean you should put your running shoes in the back of your closet. There are many ways to stay fit, both indoors and outdoors.
Indoors
If you like to stay indoors, there are many ways to burn calories and strengthen your muscles. Test your local fitness center and see what equipment and services they offer. The gym might be a nice alternative if you don’t want to exercise outside in the winter.
Maintaining a workout schedule is often incredibly difficult during the winter months, even at a fitness center. It’s no fun having to go there in the cold. That is why you can consider purchasing equipment in your own home, such as a treadmill or a multifunctional training machine.
If you don’t have the budget for an expensive machine, invest in simple tools, such as a training ball, resistance band, or skipping rope. There are also nice fitness DVDs.
Outdoors
On nice winter days it is best to go outside. Winter sports such as ice skating, snowboarding and skiing burn a lot of calories and are fun to do.
In addition, you can always run. If you don’t want to spend extra money and still want to stay active, walking outdoors is ideal. The following tips will protect you from the cold weather:
- Extra layers of clothing will keep you warm and you can always take something off.
- Make sure your pants are long enough so that there is no exposed skin.
- Wear gloves. This way you prevent winter hands.
- A scarf keeps your neck nice and warm.
- Wear a hat, because you lose a lot of heat through your head.
- Do a quick warm up before you start walking so that your muscles are warm and loose.
- Breathe through your nose, as it filters and warms the air.
Overcoming the winter blues
For many, the winter months can be a depressing time due to the cold and the short days with less sun.
With those feelings of depression, sometimes exercising is the last thing you feel like doing. Still, running helps with depression. Getting up and being active gives the feeling that you have achieved something and that makes you feel better.
An exercise buddy could also help motivate you. Or try listening to upbeat music during your workout that positively influences your mood and keeps you at a faster pace. Another way to motivate yourself for a workout is to hire a personal trainer.
fitness tips
Activities like gardening, playing with your kids, walking the dog, or parking the car far from the grocery store are all smart ways to sneak exercise into your day.
Even though you may not be able to exercise as much in the winter as you do in the summer, make sure you do at least three workouts a week. This is good for heart and blood vessels, strength and flexibility. Stop using the cold as an excuse to not be fit!
