Winter is a time that often leaves families indoors trying to stay warm and avoid the chill. With wind and snow that send temperatures into the negatives, there is no desire to go outside and be active. You find yourself stuck indoors with energy you need to burn. The winter months are filled with comfort foods and other treats that can pack on the pounds if you aren’t taking the time to get moving. With weather this bad, how do you keep active to ensure that you can stay fit and healthy?
The cold weather should not be any reason to avoid doing anything active. You can either put on your warm clothes or stay in your warm house, there is plenty you can do to be active this winter both inside and outside! Here are 6 ways you can stay active this winter:
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Join a Gym
Just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t be active inside. Joining a local gym is a great way to make sure you are getting the exercise you need during the cold months. Many gyms will allow you to do a trial period before signing up. If you are not looking to commit for a full year, gyms will usually offer a monthly program. This will help you continue to keep active in winter, and then when the summer months approach (when you are more likely to be active on your own outside) you can cancel your membership. Check out the Talisman Centre, voted the Best Place to Workout on Best of Calgary in 2016, for more details go to the website at http://bestofcalgary.city/winners/talisman-centre.
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Sign up For a Class
Fitness classes are an innovative way to stay motivated and moving all year long. There are a variety of classes that you can choose from (Zumba, Bootcamp, Kickboxing, Yoga or many others). These classes will usually be offered in 4-8 week segments. You can register yourself for the amount of times you want to go. Still not ready to commit to a class? Ask the class instructor if you can drop in and test out the class. It is almost guaranteed they will allow you to come and check it out for free.
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Deep Clean the House
Why save the deep cleaning for spring? Instead of waiting until the months where the weather is nice and you would prefer to be outside, begin to clean and organize your house this season. Cleaning can be a vigorous activity that will make you sweat. Wiping, vacuuming, sweeping, and cleaning things in strange corners of the house, requires your body to move and work hard.
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Participate in Winter Sports
Although it is cold outside, if you bundle up enough you can still do much of your exercise outdoors. Participating in a winter sport can be a great workout and can also be a lot of fun for the whole family. Partake in skiing lessons, go tobogganing at a big hill, find a local hockey rink, the list of winter sports available is never ending. Winter sports do include ice and can be dangerous at times, be careful and ensure that your health insurance is up to date. If you are still determined to avoid being outdoors in the cold, there are often indoor skating rinks available to the public that you can go to. Skating around for an hour will get your body moving and active! The new tube park at Canada Olympic park is a great way to have some fun on the slopes even if you’re not interested in skiing, see details at http://www.winsport.ca/activities/winteractivities.cfm.
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Set up a Home Gym
If you are wanting to get active but are unwilling to pay for a class or membership at a gym, you can create your own gym for next to nothing. There are plenty of resources online that will allow you to watch fitness videos right in your living room. Most videos will not require any weights or equipment and will use your own body weight to keep you moving and working hard. This also allows you to do a workout at any time that is convenient to you without even leaving the house.
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Volunteer Your Time
During winter there are numerous volunteer opportunities that are available and organizations will often be seeking help. Find a charity that you support and that requires you to go door to door. Not only will you feel good about supporting a good cause, but you will work up a sweat walking around neighborhoods. It will keep you moving and also allow you to assist those in need, allowing you to be active and involved for the winter.
More of a fair weather person? The indoor volunteer opportunities are waiting for you. With the cold weather outside many people will be lining up to get inside, and you can help them when they get there: Working in a food kitchen, sorting food for the food bank, sorting donations of clothing and used goods. All while keeping your own toes warm. Check out the Mustard Seed or The Drop In Centre websites for volunteer opportunities.
Don’t let the snow and wind chill stop you from breaking a sweat. Being active is important to maintain your health and be fit. By staying active this winter, you will feel better about yourself in the new year and won’t feel bad indulding in a little extra comfort food. When summer hits, you will be a healthier and happier version of yourself ready to tackle the summer activities. Be safe this season as you get active and ensure that you are taking care of yourself.