Walking Off The Weight

Just because it’s a little chilly outside, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and get a great workout during the colder months. Here are some great winter fitness activities you can try. Mixing up your regular gym workout with a few of these will keep your exercise routine interesting and avoids winter blues.

Walking Or Running
If you’re tired of being stuck inside, get outdoors for a good jogging or power walking session. Jog around the block or walk a mile or two. You can add light hand weights to work your arms while you’re walking.

Take Your Workout Outside
Grab a few friends or get your family outside for a workout. A short walk or jog makes for a great warm-up. Use some steps for aerobic workouts, or find items to use as weights. Use your imagination and you’ll find all sorts of “nature provided” workout equipment. Or better yet play a game of tag football for some great interval training (and of course lots of fun).

Ice Skating
Ice skating makes for a fun winter exercise. When lakes are frozen, ice skaters come out of hiding and get out on the ice for lots of fun. You may even have some outdoor ice-skating rings in your area. Most kids really enjoy ice skating too, making this a great winter fitness activity for the whole family.

Snow Shoeing
If you are living in an area with plenty of the white fluffy stuff in the winter months, trade your sneakers or boots for snow shoes. Snowshoeing works your leg muscles even more than your usual walking workout, because you have to really lift your legs to be able to walk around. Add some poles and you get a great upper body workout as well.

Hiking
Hiking isn’t just a great workout for summer and spring. Winter hiking is a totally exhilarating fitness activity that gets you out in the cool crisp air. Bring along your digital camera to take pictures of the beautiful winter scenery as you explore the trails. Even trails that you are very familiar hiking in the summer, become new and interesting again with a layer of snow.

Filed under: Articles on April 7th, 2009