Winter Exercise Options: Outdoors, it is…

It's the cold months of the year that I truly dread. Yes, the winter months. You pick up your pair of dumbbells, and then you think: Damn this cold! Not only does the numbing effect of the winter months have an effect on your muscles, it can even slow down those who are the sharpest in terms of using their "mental muscles".

And while most folks find much relevance in the phrase "Don't think, just drink…" during these cold cold times, thanks to the winter holidays being a time for most of us to get together with family and friends after a hard year of work, these impending distractions can also mean that diet and exercise take a backseat in light of all the activity that take its place during this time.

Motivation to exercise – Out in the "cold"?

And as with all things, the battle begins in the mind… and that's where one can go from wishing they had a fit body to actually staying the course, and ending up with one. The truth is that anyone's idea of fitness is not necessarily a goal but actually a journey that is based on the momentum that you build with every workout… and the winter holidays every year can really slow you down if succumb to the paradigm of "winter is a time to stay indoors". Moreso, if you'd prefer staying in bed (which one can't be blamed for, due to the cold) as opposed to getting out of the house.

And while in my part of the world, our understanding of the word "cold" means just low temperatures compared to other parts of the world where snow, blizzards and zero visibility is a common occurrence, staying indoors is an acceptable reason (if not safe) to do so. As for the rest of us, not leaving your home during this time is not necessarily a good idea if you want to continue to stay active.

So, apart from those who live at the Arctic Pole, here are some outdoor exercises that one can participate in to ward off the winter exercise blues, if you will!

Winter (Outdoor) Exercise Options

What one has to remember that all these options are in line with the true spirit of the holidays, and while being a lot of fun, then can help you stay in control of your weight as well. After all, there's no harm if you can put some fun into exercise now and then, and the celebratory spirit of the holidays might just be the right thing.

1) Clearing your drive

Put away the weights, and save those all-important dollars by clearing the drive. Even though this might seem as a chore, shovelling all that snow will help you to burn a lot of calories as well as act as muscle-building exercise.

2) Snowball fights

Since there's plenty of snow around, one can engage in a snowball fight that is a lot of fun but kickstarts your metabolism with all the throwing and cardio that takes place.

3) Sledding

Since this requires a hill (and a sled, of course), you'd be lucky if you can find one in the vicinity where this will not only turn out to be a blast, you can involve your family and friends along with this while also burning loads of calories at the time when you push the sled up to the top again.

4) Ice Skating

While being great fun, one can try this activity at the local skating rink  for a great cardio workout as well.

5) Building a snowman

Another fun activity that while not being as vigorous as the others still results in burning a lot of calories.

In Closing

All these "exercises" are truly in keeping with the tradition of the holidays, so you won't end up feeling left out either.

Tagged as: body, build, burn, calorie, calories, cardio, dumbbell, Exercise, exercises, fitness, gain, metabolism, mind, muscle, muscles, time, tradition, weight, weights, workout