You may be fortunate enough to live in a place where the winter climate is perfect for exercising outdoors. However, for many it is a constant struggle to maintain your summer fitness routine when winter hits. Less day light, constant freezing weather, snowy and icy roads and even winter doldrums can zap your exercise enthusiasm. The challenge for you is to find ways to work around these obstacles to continue down your path of successful weight loss.
Dress Well in the Cold
If you live in a cold winter climate, have the right clothes for continuing your exercise routine outside. There is no need to go to the local sporting goods store to stock up on the latest winter gear. Use what you have in your closet and layer. The bottom layer needs to be a material that whisks moisture away from your skin. The middle layer can be an insulator, like fleece, and the outer layer should be a water proof, wind proof breathable layer. Wear a hat and gloves and proper footwear for further protection against the cold.
Find New Winter Sports
No matter where you live, there are a few days here and there where you can be outside enjoying the sunshine. Snow brings all sorts of fun outdoor activities, like snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowboarding and skiing. If you have an activity in mind that you have never tried, start by renting the necessary equipment to see if you like it. Getting outside in the sun to exercise can be a successful motivator during the winter months.
Participate in Active Gaming
Many of gaming systems provide active participation, which burns calories. You can play your favorite sport without leaving your living room. Many gaming systems also have calorie-burning exercise programs, so that you can keep track of how many calories you are burning. Get your kids involved on the days when spending time outside is not an option.
Throw a Dance Party
If you love to dance, put your favorite music on in the house and do your normal activities to the beat of the music. Add a pep in your step while loading the dishwasher, folding the laundry or vacuuming the floors. Use 20 minutes for a dance party to get the pent-up energy out of your children when they are stuck indoors. Dancing is fun and it burns calories, which contributes to weight loss success.
Increase Your Chore Intensity
By placing time limits on certain chores you have around the house, you can turn a mundane chore like mopping the floor or dusting the blinds into an opportunity to increase your heart rate. Set a timer and work as fast and as efficiently as you can. You can even wear a heart rate monitor to make sure that you are keeping your heart rate in the fat burning zone.
Try an Exercise Video
There are thousands of exercise videos available online, at your local video rental store and at your local library. Many group exercise instructors have complete workouts published online, at sites like YouTube. Pick a style of group exercise that you enjoy: yoga, Pilates, dance, boot camp, strength training or kick boxing.
Invest in Home Exercise Equipment
Home exercise equipment does not have to break the bank. Exercise bands, Swiss balls, medicine balls and hand weights are all that you need in order to create a home-based strength training program for yourself. These exercise accessories are sold at any sporting goods store. You can get a list of exercises for each piece of equipment simply by searching for them online, for instance, using the search term, “medicine ball exercises.”
Play with Your Kids
Although a game of hide and seek or tag are not your typical exercises, they still can help you burn calories. Moreover, you can spend some quality time with your kids while you are reaching your weight loss goals. Get out the hula hoops or the jump ropes and have contests with your kids to see who can go the longest without stopping. You will be huffing and puffing, guaranteed.
Hit the Mall
If you need to get out of the house and do not have a gym membership, then visit the mall. Wear your walking shoes on and do a few laps. Wear a pedometer so that you can keep track of how many steps you take during each workout, and try to improve on the number each time you go to the mall. Even if you are not doing laps, walking around, looking at the merchandise, and carrying your purchases all burn fat.
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