Winter Exercise Ideas

Even though Wisconsin winters can be long and cold, it’s important to maintain an exercise regimen.  Whether you enjoy exercising outdoors or working out inside, here are some exercise ideas to get you through this chilly season:

If you’re not afraid to get outside, having snow on the ground offers some great opportunities for exercise.  Snowshoeing is a wonderful winter sport that has recently gained popularity here in Northern Wisconsin.  There are several trails in Oneida County that not only offer a great workout, but also beautiful scenery (http://www.co.oneida.wi.gov/section_detail.asp?linkcatid=442&linkid=1817&locid=136&sname)!  Did you know that you can burn up to twice as many calories snowshoeing as walking at the same speed?  Or up to 1,000 calories per hour?  It’s a great workout!  Another wonderful outdoor activity is cross country skiing.  Oneida County and surrounding counties are home to an abundance of ski trails that vary in difficulty.  A 150 pound person can burn more than 500 calories per hour skiing at a moderate pace!  Keep that up and you’re waistline is sure to shrink!  While both of these sports do require some equipment, fear not.  Local sports shops offer equipment rentals so trying these sports won’t break the bank.  However, if snowshoeing and skiing aren’t intriguing to you, remember that going sledding, shoveling snow, and even building a snowman burn calories. 

If outdoor activities aren’t your style, there are plenty of indoor activities that can keep you trim.  Winter is an excellent time to start strength training.  Strength training helps control your weight, prevent heart disease, and increase bone strength, just to name a few.  You don’t need a lot of equipment to do strength training either- you can do body weight exercises and if you do have access to equipment, you can get away with just a few dumbbells and a stability ball.  While you may not burn as many calories strength training, approximately 200-300 calories per hour depending on your weight, it is still extremely important to incorporate it into your exercise routine.  You can also do cardio exercises like jogging in place, jumping jacks, jumping rope, running stairs, and dancing!  Renting or purchasing at home workout videos that offer challenging workouts is an option too.  If you’re interested in some at workout routines, here are two sites that have some sample exercises:  http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightlifting/a/bestexercises.htm ; http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Begin/exercises.htm

As always, remember to stay hydrated and if you’re going outside- remember to wear layers!  Enjoy the rest of your winter and stay warm!