It’s easy to let the winter take charge of our regular fitness routines by keeping us cooped up inside. Don’t let the winter weather determine your waist size. There are many ways to keep the winter weight off this season, and you’d be surprised how simple they are! Here are 8 ways to stay active this winter!
1) Start a New Hobby
Embrace the snow this season by taking on a new outdoor activity! Find the nearest slopes to utilize the cardio burning exercises that go along with skiing and snowboarding. If a ski resort isn’t at your disposal, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Tromping through the snow will give you an instant cardio burst. Changing out your regular tires on your bicycle for snow tires is another way to keep active in the winter months!
2) Join a Gym
If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, find a local gym to join or perhaps an indoor sports league. Gyms are a great way to help with an active lifestyle over the winter. Having all of the equipment under one roof makes working out easy! Personal trainers will happily assist in creating an exercise regime that fits an individuals needs, no matter what the workout level may be. Gyms usually have an abundance of different classes to choose from. Going with friends is an excellent way to help hold each other accountable as well.
3) Join an Indoor League
If you’re the competitive type, join an indoor league at a local recreation center! Indoor rock climbing is a fantastic way to increase and maintain strength in the winter. Whether it’s football, volleyball, soccer or dodge ball, all are equally beneficial to maintaining physical activity all winter long!
4) Workplace Fitness
Sitting at a desk all day isn’t beneficial to anyone. There are many ways to get creative in the workplace to increase your overall activity. If you work in a building that has multiple levels, try taking the stairs over the elevator as often as possible. Simply walking laps around your office, big or small, can also help to increase mobility and cardio. Use a small water glass, so you have to make more trips to fill it up. Consider walking to a coworkers office instead of emailing them if you have a question.
If your office has unused conference rooms, sneak inside for a five-minute cardio session. High knees, jumping jacks, squats and lunges can easily be done at work. Forget the funny looks and up your workplace activities!
5) Get Creative at Home
Even if you don’t have an in home gym or major exercise equipment, staying fit at home is still an option. Invest in a yoga mat and some light free weights, and you’re good to go! There are plenty of great fitness videos that can be done in the comfort of your home.
Household chores can be another great addition to your workout routine. Vacuuming, sweeping and dusting keep you active, and help keep your home clutter free in the process.
6) Play Outside
Who says kids get to have all the fun when it comes to playing in the snow this winter? Bundle up and get outside for an old-fashioned snowball fight! Remember how exhausting it was to play outside for a few hours as a kid? Imagine how many calories you burn running through knee-high snow during a single snow fight? Sledding is another outstanding play activity to add to your list.
7) Volunteer
If you happen to have an elderly neighbor or know someone with a physical disability, volunteer to help them out in the winter months. Shoveling sidewalks and distributing snow melt will make a world of difference to someone in need. Not to mention, it gets you outside of the house and moving. Ask if you can help on trash day as well! Sometimes carrying a heavy trash can down the driveway is more than enough to get your heart rate up.
Volunteering for a local charity by collecting donations outside, is something that will help you burn calories without even thinking about it. Cold temperatures have been proven to significantly raise metabolic rate. While it might not be the most comfortable option, just know that your volunteer activities are beneficial for you and others!
8) Early Resolutions
Are you considering a weight loss or workout resolution for the New Year? Challenge yourself to start it early! This will help keep your eating and exercise in check throughout the ever so tempting holiday months. Promise yourself you won’t let the temptations of the holiday and the cold temperatures hold you back from your goals!
Stay Mobile with UnityPoint at Home
If you are having trouble staying mobile and active after an injury, surgery or chronic condition, the experts at UnityPoint at Home can help. Our physical therapy team is dedicated to providing care and coaching to help patients restore optimal levels of function and mobility, all from the comfort of your home. Click here to learn more.
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