Who wants to go outside to exercise during the winter in the Northeast? I know for me it's a struggle to lace up my shoes and go out for a jog when the sleet is pelting against my office window.
So how are you supposed to stay in fantastic shape during the colder months of the year? Here are 5 little secrets that will keep you on track until it's shorts and t-shirt weather again!
1. Ice Skate!
During the winter it's usually to cold, to dark, or to dangerous to walk or run outside on the roads. Not to mention slippery. To get in a great workout and stay relatively warm (at least without the wind chill) ice skating is the way to go. Yes, you can go to a local pond and shovel off the snow to start a pickup game of hockey, but even better yet is to go to the local ice rink for a free skate.
A free skate is just a few hours where the rink opens up for the public. It is very reasonably priced (about $20 for two with skate rentals) and ice skating is a great workout! A few laps at a elevated pace will certainly get you sweating.
Haven't ice skated since high school? Don't worry, Ann and I went a month and a half ago for the first time in a long time and picked it up again just like riding a bike. But if you are worried, it doesn't hurt to get a pair of kneepads!
2. Wear Under Armour
If you're a trooper and need to be outside this thermal wear is the way to go. It's expensive, but it will keep you warm AND dry. The fabric is engineered to wick sweat away from your body. This means that you won't be soaked to the bone and freeze up on those cold days when you're working out hard.
Under Armour makes tops, bottoms, headgear, gloves, etc., so you can accessorize and wear them all under your workout clothes for maximum winter comfort!
3. Know Your Physical Limits
Yes, you could exercise outside all winter long, but there are some days when your health is more important than pushing it.
Have you ever gone outside on one of those days where the air is so cold to breathe in that you have a coughing fit right there on the spot?
Well if you have, or even if you haven't, your body is telling you something very important