Nothing thwarts good intentions of working out like cold weather. But the decline in the climate doesn’t have to mean a decline in your health. Try a few of these cold-weather workout tips presented by Optimal Fitness to help bust through the winter blues.
Create a Home Gym
You’ve been wanting to have a home gym for years but didn’t think you could spare the room. The good news is a home gym doesn’t have to take up too much space or cost a fortune. With a few inexpensive supplies and a little floor space, you can have a full workout facility. For example, if you have a couple of sets of dumbbells, a yoga mat, and adaptable resistance bands, you can do almost any strength-training workout you can do in a gym.
If you live in an apartment, your building may have an on-site gym that you can freely use. This can easily help you save money on expensive equipment or gear. However, if your complex doesn’t have a gym, consider moving to one that does. Searching through sites like Apartmentguide can help you find a new place that has all the amenities you need.
Suit Up
If you decide to venture out, be sure to put on your compression gear, even if you plan to wear sweats over it. Compression clothing keeps your muscles warm and blocks wind and moisture. It also helps increase circulation, which keeps your body temperature regulated.
Upgrade Your Tech
A great way to motivate your winter workout is to make good use of technology. For example, there are many apps — both free and premium — that can help you track your activities, as well as calculate how many calories you’ve burned. Some people even opt to use fitness trackers that can monitor your vitals and present the data in real time.
Look for Indoor Opportunities
Nothing says you have to bundle up and head outdoors for a workout. There are tons of ways to tweak your everyday activities to give them a fitness boost. For example, take a trek up the staircase in your building once an hour. Stair climbing burns more calories than walking alone and helps firm the thighs and buttocks. But even if you don’t have stairs, try getting up and walking up and down the hallway a few times during breaks.
Take Up an Indoor Sport
There are lots of fun things you can do inside that will give you a workout. Consider inviting a few friends for a game of hoops. Or, if basketball is not your thing, try racquetball, indoor swimming, or spinning. But even if you don’t consider yourself athletic, a game of table tennis can burn up to 500 calories. Seniors can take advantage of programs like Silver Sneakers through their Medicare plan that make fitness memberships affordable, and there are plenty of gyms that participate.
Intensify Your Workouts
Some studies indicate that “15 minutes of high intensity interval training burns more calories than jogging on a treadmill for an hour.” So, why not incorporate short intense workout bursts throughout your day. You don’t even need workout equipment to do it. You can find a few moves that work for you and do a short workout in your office or home every hour throughout the day.
Take a Class
Almost every community has a facility that offers aerobics or fitness classes. Check out your local gym to see what types of winter classes are offered. Most often, you will find classes like yoga, spinning, Pilates, or strength-training. Not only will you be warm and toasty indoors, you’ll also be working out with others, which will keep you motivated.
Join the Mall Walkers
There’s a reason so many senior citizens have taken to shopping malls for their fitness routines. They are not affected by weather, and the routes are usually mapped out so you know how far you’ve walked. Plus, when you go with friends, it feels more like a social event than a chore.
Winter shouldn’t mean the end of fitness. In fact, you should be more mindful of your activity levels than ever since colder weather often means comfort foods and holiday treats. So, don’t find yourself without a plan. Bundle up and head outdoors if you must, or find a way to take your workout inside. Either way, don’t neglect your health with the change of the seasons.