Having lived in Alaska the majority of my life (as well as some other equally unforgiving climates), I know what people are talking about when they lament about their “winter weight.” It’s tough trying to stay in shape in the winter, with gray, cloudy days, and a lack of warmth, the weather is not very appealing to venture out into. Many people, due to decreased physical activity, end up gaining weight over the winter months, but there are ways to avoid this!
1. Invest in Exercise Equipment
If you have even just a little bit of room in your house, you should consider investing in an elliptical machine or treadmill. Even if space is an issue, certain models are compact and are able to be folded up for storage between uses. Keeping your workout equipment somewhere near your television might prove handy as well. Try using it while watching your favorite TV show once a day. Even just thirty to sixty minutes of walking on a treadmill or eliptical per day can do wonders for your health, and your weight!
2. Got a Wii?
If you have a wii gaming console, now might be a great time to look into purchasing the wii fit bundle. The wii fit has all sorts of exercises you can do, indoors, and even keeps track of your weight and weight loss goals. This can be an excellent motivator, and it’s fun too!
3. Workout DVD’s
It can be tough to find a good workout DVD that you like, so be sure to read reviews and search around before purchasing one. These DVD’s can give you a great amount of exercise, even done just three times a week, and help you keep your winter weight under control!
4. Develop a Morning Routine
Just like you brush your teeth and comb your hair each morning, make it a habit to do a dozen sit ups, or five push ups. This is a simple way to work exercise into your day.
5. Take the stairs.
If you’re somewhere that has an elevator, use the stairs instead! Stairs are harder work and provide more exercise than simply standing in an elevator. If you take the stairs rather than the elevator every time, you’ll work in even more exercise. If you want to vary it up a bit, then try climbing the stairs, skipping one step, and stepping far in the opposite direction with each step, similar to a lunge. But don’t do this if you’re about to walk into a business meeting! You might break a sweat!
6. Vacuum & Sweep
Believe it or not, but housecleaning helps burn calories and keep you fit! Even moderate housecleaning, such as vacuuming and sweeping are great for the body, so here’s some extra incentive to keep that house clean!
