With the temperatures taking a bit of a chilly turn soon, you may be wondering how you are going to keep up your active lifestyle. Here are a 10 of my favorite ways to Stay Active When the Weather Gets Cold.
Just this last weekend, a cold front came through my town, and looking at the upcoming forecast it doesn’t seem to be leaving any time soon. Maybe you’re not seeing the colder temperatures yet, but chances are, if you haven’t seen them yet, you’ll be seeing them soon. And if you’ve been spending a lot of your active time outside biking, running, or going on walks, you may be scratching your head wondering what the upcoming months will have in store for you. For many, the winter months mean hibernating in the comfort of your warm home hidden beneath large sweaters so that no one can see the effects of your winter laziness.
This winter, I have some tips for you to keep you active regardless of the temperatures outside. It may take a little bit of creativity and bundling up, but I promise you it’s going to be worth it. Come springtime when everyone is freaking out about swimsuit season, you’re going to be on track and ready to go for bathing suit season!
1. Invest in warm clothing. There are a few brands of workout clothing that will keep you warm while you’re running around outside. One of my favorites is Under Armour. Long sleeves with the thumb holes are my absolute favorite way to keep warm while working out outside. You’re also going to want to invest in ear warmers or a hat to protect your ears, gloves, and the right shoes to withstand the elements. Visit a local running store to have them help you find the best shoes and gear to stay safe and warm.
2. Set up an inexpensive home-gym. If you’re dead-set on staying home and inside, bring the gym to you at home! With just a couple hundred bucks, you can create a gym at home that may just save your sanity (and your waist-line). A couple set of dumb-bells, a stability ball, and a resistance band is probably all you need for strength training. If you’re looking for a cardio solution for the winter, check out your local classifieds for an inexpensive bike or treadmill that you can use throughout the winter months.
3. Don’t get sick! If there’s one thing that will put a halt to your workout in an instant, it’s catching a cold. As humans, we like to use as many excuses as we can to get out of working out. So take your vitamins, eat as many fruits and veggies as you can, and in general just take care of yourself so you don’t get sick.
4. Go out and play. This is probably the last thing you want to do when it’s cold and wintery out there, but getting bundled up to play with your kids is going to win you over as Mom of the Year while you’re getting active at the same time! Who doesn’t want that award?! Snowball fights, building snow forts, sledding – these are all fantastic and fun ideas for playing outside with the kiddos.
5. Keep your eye on the prize. The prize is next Spring and Summer. Like I said before, you are going to be half-way there by the time the warm months come around as long as you stay active this winter. Most people will be starting over after the holidays. You will just be pushing through!
6. Invest in fitness DVDs. If you’re looking for variety to your home gym, fitness DVDs or online videos on YouTube is the way to go. There are so many workouts on YouTube that you can access for free, and they are sure to keep you from getting bored all winter long.
7. House Cleaning. I know cleaning is the last thing you want to do, but with the holidays, you’re probably going to be cleaning for parties and families visiting. Crank up the music and put on your workout clothes so you can get in the right mindset and get your house super clean while you break a sweat.
8. Look for a holiday fun run. There’s always some sort of a Turkey-Trot or Santa Run that you can sign up to participate in. Having a goal like this will keep you active so that you are always working toward something specific.
9. Go for a walk in the mall. I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t is only people over 70 who lace-up to walk the malls? You know what? I’ve seen younger folk taking advantage of the early hours at the mall to get their walks in during the winter. So don’t be ashamed. Get your kids in the stroller, get in the car, and walk the mall for half an hour or so.
10. Shovel snow. I know. Not the most fun you can have in the winter. But it’s going to be one of the best workouts you’ve had all winter, and your shoulders will tell you so the following day. Plus your spouse is going to be so happy that you’ve conquered the driveway and they don’t have to.
So there you have it. You don’t have any excuses now. There’s 10 ways to stay active. There’s no reason why you should be complaining about extra pounds this winter.
Thanks for letting me hang out with you today. If you’re looking for other ways to get healthy, check out a few of these other posts.
How to Wake Up Early to Work Out
How Setting & Achieving Goals Makes You a Better Mother
{photo sources: Getty Images}
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