How can I exercise in the winter?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Lack of time is only one excuse people use to avoid starting and sticking to a physical activity routine. Another is the weather. Many people begin an exercise regimen in the spring, work out in the summer, reach their fitness peak in the fall, and, then, as winter approaches, give up altogether. Then they start from scratch all over again the next spring. This disruption to the routine is completely unnecessary, since it's so easy to come up with alternatives to exercising outdoors. Joining a gym or a club or simply buying equipment for an at-home gym can fix this cause of unnecessary aging. Even shopping malls provide great indoor walking routes, as do hospital corridors. (As an aside, hospital corridors can certainly help remind you how important it is to do all you can to stay healthy.) More than 4 million Americans over sixty-five now mall-walk regularly to burn an average of 2,000 kcal a week. That makes their RealAge (physiologic age) as much as four years younger.
Find a sport you love that can be played indoors in the winter such as badminton, squash, or racquetball. You could swim in an indoor heated swimming pool. If you really prefer being outdoors but get stopped cold by winter, learn how to dress for the weather. The proper gear can mean the difference between suffering and enjoyment. The advances in exercise wear in the past ten years have produced new fabrics such as fleece and Lycra that make exercise clothing both warm and lightweight. To really make the most of the cold weather, learn a winter sport. There are few sports that provide the complete body workout of cross-country skiing. Ice-skating, downhill skiing, and snowshoeing are other fun sports that can turn those gray winter months into something you actually look forward to.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulLack of time is only one excuse people use to avoid starting and sticking to a physical activity routine. Another is the weather. Many people begin an exercise regimen in the spring, work out in the summer, reach their fitness peak in the fall, and,... More -
Dr. Larry Cheskin of Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Get Out!
- Wear comfortable, warm clothes in layers so that you can remove them when your body temperature rises.
- On warmer days, wear a thin outer layer and tie it around your waist if you get too warm.
- Need a reason to get out? Walk your dog or with a friend around the block before the sun begins to set. If you plan to go out later, wear bright colors or something reflective so that cars can easily spot you.
- When it snows, shovel your sidewalk or driveway, and if you feel up to it, offer to do your neighbor’s driveway. You may even make some cash to use towards holiday gifts!
- When talking on the phone, walk around the house or vacuum the carpet instead of sitting on the couch.
- Burn calories while you clean! Sweep, mop, scrub, and dust your way to a slimmer you!
- Take extra trips up and down the stairs to strengthen leg muscles and burn calories.
- Check online sites for good prices on used exercise equipment to keep at home. Some ideas are resistance bands, light weights, a yoga mat, and an exercise ball.
- Jump rope, or just jump during television commercials.
- Turn on your favorite CD or radio station, and dance wherever you have room.
- There are free exercise programs on television (i.e. WETA and Comcast On Demand) and several internet sites (i.e. Exercisetv.tv) offer free online exercise videos. See also Acefitness.org for free workout ideas, tips, and video demonstrations.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulGet Out! Wear comfortable, warm clothes in layers so that you can remove them when your body temperature rises. On warmer days, wear a thin outer layer and tie it around your waist if you get too warm. Need a reason to get out? Walk your dog or... More -
Beth Oliver answered:Join a local gym or recreation center. Invest in a few good pieces of outerwear that will keep you warm and dry, including a hat. Dedicate an unused space in your house for a yoga mat and a few simple items like a weighted training ball or hand held weights. Rent some new exercise DVDs that you can do at home. Walk indoors in a mall or up and down the stairs in your office building.
Join a local gym or recreation center. Invest in a few good pieces of outerwear that will keep you warm and dry, including a hat. Dedicate an unused space in your house for a yoga mat and a few simple items like a weighted training ball or hand held... More -
Adriana Albritton answered:Bad weather is sometimes an issue for some people. Yet, it shouldn’t be, taking into consideration the importance of being physically active! For one, you can embrace the weather and engage in winter activities like ice skating, skiing, sledding, or snowshoeing. But if you do so, do not forget to keep hydrated and dress appropriately for the weather. Or at the same time, you can still go to the gym!
But if those options are not appealing enough and you don’t want to face the weather and desire to stay in your warm quarters…. You can get workout DVDs or work with an online trainer and exercise from the comfort of your home. Additionally, you can do calisthenics, which are exercises that do not need any equipment. They increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using only one's body weight for resistance. Some examples of calisthenics are lunges, jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, crunches, pull-ups, squads, calf-raises, dips, and flutter kicks. When performed vigorously, they can benefit your muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and improve your psychomotor skills, your balance, agility and coordination.
Bad weather is sometimes an issue for some people. Yet, it shouldn’t be, taking into consideration the importance of being physically active! For one, you can embrace the weather and engage in winter activities like ice skating, skiing,... More -
Diane Armstrong - NASM Elite Trainer answered:You’ve got to keep moving and exercising even though it's winter. Get outside for your walk or run. Wind, snow, and cold needn’t slow you down if you dress appropriately with layers to keep you warm and reflective clothing to keep you visible on dark days. Be sure to stretch and warm up your muscles first, since cold temperatures make your body less flexible and more prone to injuries. Wear shoes with deep traction to prevent slipping on wet or icy roads. I love throwing mine in the dryer just before heading out.
If you just can’t make yourself go out, get out your exercise ball, bands and dumbbells and pop in a DVD or look at your TV listings for workout shows. Those are always fun.
You’ve got to keep moving and exercising even though it's winter. Get outside for your walk or run. Wind, snow, and cold needn’t slow you down if you dress appropriately with layers to keep you warm and reflective clothing to keep you... More -
Dr. Darren Treasure answered:Create your own at home workout routine. Jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups, leg lifts, squats, and running in place are all exercises that can be completed at home at no cost. Throw in some light lifting using cans of peas or bottles of washing detergent and you are well on your way to creating a great whole body workout.
A large number of households in the US have exercise equipment that are now substituting for laundry lines or are buried under a pile of old clothes. Take a few minutes, dust the equipment off and get going.
Hit the stairs at work and commit to finding ways to get in some aerobic activity during your regular work day. Along the same lines, power walk when you are at the mall or waiting for a plane at the airport.
Join a health club or the Y. There are now gyms that specialize in providing services for every type of exerciser.Create your own at home workout routine. Jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups, leg lifts, squats, and running in place are all exercises that can be completed at home at no cost. Throw in some light lifting using cans of peas or bottles of washing... More
