It can be tempting to stay inside when the weather is cold, but don’t let the cold weather stop your fitness routine. Being active in winter has mental health benefits and it’s important for your physical and emotional health to stay active throughout all seasons. Exercise helps you sleep better, it helps keep weight off when trying to lose or maintain weight, and studies have shown that regular exercise can improve your mood-making it a great way to get through winter blues!
We’ve got five ways to keep you active during the cold winter months!
1. Run on the treadmill in your local gym
Treadmills are great for staying active in the winter. If you don’t have time to make it outside, this is a great alternative way to stay active and also get some strength training in.
You can use a treadmill for intervals like running at a fast pace for 30 seconds followed by walking or jogging at an easy pace for 60 seconds. You can also do HIIT on the treadmill by alternating between sprinting and jogging or walking throughout your workout period which lasts 20-30 minutes. Another option is to mix up different speeds as well (i.e., 5 minutes fast, 1 minute slow).
If you want more of a challenge, try doing hill repeats where you go up inclines on the treadmill at various levels until fatigue sets in then go back down again until fatigue sets in again then repeat until your workout period is over!
2. Train with a friend or join a group fitness class
If you’re trying to get in shape, it’s easy to fall off the wagon during the winter months. Being cold and tired makes it easy to skip workouts or cut them short, but having a friend by your side can help keep you motivated and on track! You can share ideas about what works for each of you, and work together to find new exercises that will keep your bodies moving through those long winter days.
It’s fun! Who doesn’t like being part of a group? If you’ve ever taken part in group fitness classes at a gym or yoga studio, then I’m sure you know what we mean – it’s just so much more fun working out with friends than going solo. Plus, when one person gets bored with their current workout routine (and trust me: they will), another person has something creative they’ve tried before that might inspire new ideas for everyone involved!
This means no one will feel stuck doing the same old thing all day long; instead, everyone gets excited about trying something different each time they meet up for workouts together!
3. Try something new!
- You might be tired of the gym, but there are so many fun ways to exercise! Go for a run in a park or on the beach, try out an indoor cycling class, or take up yoga or pilates. You could even try something completely out of left field – from aerial fitness classes to rock climbing and more!
- Get personal with a trainer. If you’re looking for exercise inspiration (or just someone who will kick your butt into shape), find yourself a personal trainer and commit to working out with them at least once per week. Not only will they help motivate you, but they’ll also keep track of your progress which is great motivation on its own!
- Pack up and move outdoors. Winter is actually one of the best seasons for exercising outdoors – the cold air can really help clear away toxins from inside our bodies while also increasing circulation and strengthening our immune systems (yay!). So get outside! Find somewhere close by where it’s just as convenient as going to the gym – maybe it’s an empty parking lot or even just an empty street corner – and go for it!
- Find ways to stay active indoors.
Indoor activities are a great way to stay active when it’s cold outside. Try playing a sport in your basement or garage, taking dance lessons, or trying out some new fitness classes at your local gym.
Remember that exercise doesn’t have to mean going for a run on the treadmill or lifting weights at the gym! Strength training is an excellent way to stay in shape without having to brave the elements, and doing it with your family can be fun too!
4. Build fitness into your everyday routine
You don’t have to be a marathon runner or Olympic athlete to stay in shape. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends just 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of muscle strengthening activity per week. That could mean walking your dog or playing with your children. The point is that being active doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming – just make it a habit!
Many people find that staying fit in winter can be challenging because they are stuck indoors for long periods without access to fresh air and sunshine. While indoor workouts like cycling, running on treadmills, or swimming laps in pools are great ways to stay active when the weather prevents outdoor exercise, there are also other ways you can incorporate fitness into your life without leaving home:
- Take the stairs instead of escalators
- Dance to your favorite songs
- Walk around town instead of driving (or ride a bike if there isn’t much traffic)
- Get creative with active video games such as Dance Dance Revolution;
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and stop exercising during the winter months, but we hope these tips help you continue to be active! Remember that keeping fit is important all year round, and you can do it anytime, anywhere, whether its working out in sunny Florida with a personal trainer, skiing off-piste in Austria or dancing to the top 10 in your bedroom!
