A common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. That’s likely because people have overindulged over the holidays and felt unmotivated to exercise with the cold temperatures.
However, you can get in shape in many ways in the winter. Let’s take a look at the different ways you can keep moving your body while keeping your sanity throughout the cold weather.
1. Find New Outdoor Activities
It’s hard to get yourself outside when it’s cold, but there are so many fun activities you can do in the snow. Snowmobiling, for example, is a great way to get some exercise during the cold winter months.
You’d be surprised at how much core strength, flexibility, and arm muscles it takes to get around in the snow on one of these machines. Prepare your snowmobile for the winter season and buy your Skidoo parts online today.
2. Take More Walks Outside
When temperatures are below fifty-five degrees, you’re probably happy staying indoors. But there’s no way to reach your 10,000 steps while staying inside.
Try to push yourself to go for more frequent walks or consider taking up trail running if you live in a woodsy or mountainous area.
3. Do Virtual Classes
The pandemic opened up a new wave of online classes, including fitness options. Reach out to your local gym and see what classes they offer virtually, or do a quick search online to see what’s available globally.
4. Try a New Indoor Sport
There are plenty of sports that can keep you active during winter that take place indoors. Basketball, racketball, or even indoor soccer all have community leagues available.
Search online or check out local Facebook groups to see what your neighborhood has going on. If one doesn’t exist, start a new club. It’s an opportunity to make new like-minded friends who are looking for the same things to do.
5. Use Health Apps on Your Phone
Between cell phones and smartwatches, there are dozens of ways to track your daily activity. Health apps offer ways to count calories, track your sleep, or keep a count of how much you move your body throughout the day.
You can even share your data with a friend so you have an accountability partner throughout the season.
6. Turn Playtime Into Exercise Time
Life as a busy parent with small children can be tough when trying to find time to work out, let alone in the middle of the cold winter. But there are ways to fit in a workout when you have kids. Playtime can easily be workout time for mom or dad.
Lifting the child up in the air can work out your arms. Rocking your baby to sleep can tone your calves and thighs. Instead of gluing yourself to the couch, find ways to sneak in extra movements when you’re with them that will benefit your body.
7. Turn Winter Cleaning Into Exercise
Winter is the perfect time to do some serious upkeep on the interior of the house. Since you’re indoors a lot, you can declutter and do a deep clean of everything you might have missed throughout the summer or fall. You can easily turn winter cleaning into exercise.
Do you need to dust above the fans? Try calf raises to boost you up. Want to rearrange some of the furniture in the house? Get your squats in when you move heavy items around. It’s all about getting creative!
8. Find An Indoor Pool
Swimming is an excellent low-impact cardio exercise you can do all year round. All you need to do is find a club or gym that offers an indoor pool. Swim laps or take a water aerobics class if they offer them to stay in shape during the winter.
Signing up your kids for indoor swimming lessons is a great way to keep them active as well.
9. Create An At-Home Gym
You might not be too excited about going to the gym in the middle of the cold winter. Instead, set up a gym right in your home. Clear out some space in the garage or utilize the spare bedroom to act as a workout space throughout the season.
If you’re thinking that might not be enough space for an at-home gym, don’t worry. You don’t have to buy an elliptical or treadmill for the house. Smaller items like weights and TRX bands can do the trick.