A Few Unique Winter Exercises to Stay Fit in the Cold

Winter Exercises to Stay Fit-Chispa Magazine

Having a daily form of exercise provides many benefits in life. You get to feel better about yourself as you go through your daily routine, and it keeps you active so that you stay healthy for a longer period of time. It can be easier to go to the gym and stay on top of your fitness game during the spring and summer, but when the cold weather sets in, it’s tempting to stay home, curled up under a blanket.

Exercising during the winter doesn’t have to be a challenge. All it takes is a bit of creative thinking to find unique ways to stay motivated in the cold weather. You need some fitness inspiration about activities that can help you get back in a regular fitness routine. Trying something new could be all you need to re-spark your passion for fitness!

Fun and Fit Ice Skating
When you think of exercise in terms of a gym, it’s easy to let your thoughts get stuck on the same picture. To get a real exercise routine down, you have to get used to running on a treadmill, lifting weights or working out on an elliptical. As long as you’re on a machine at the gym, it counts as exercise, right?

Actually, staying fit goes way beyond the gym, and it’s possible to get a workout in without ever setting foot in one. Simple activities like walking around during the day, for instance, can raise your heart rate and get your blood pumping.

During the winter, there’s a fun way to be active and take advantage of the chilly temperature. Before the weekend arrives, check out ice skating opportunities near you. You’ll get an hour full of a new activity that will make you laugh, and you’ll have so much fun, you’ll hardly remember you’re exercising. Bring some friends along so that you can enjoy the experience with people you love.

HIIT Routines
If you’ve been in the fitness community in the last five to 10 years, you’ve probably seen the term HIIT around. It stands for High-Intensity Interval Training, which means you maximize the results you get from a workout in a minimized time frame. These workouts can be done at the gym—they may involve weights and mats depending on what you want to do—but you don’t have to go to a gym to get the same workout.

You can also try an aquatic HIIT routine. You’ll get to slip into a warm pool after a long day and work out without being drenched in sweat. It’s also a great option for anyone who finds themselves struggling with traditional gym movement. Aquatic HIIT routines can be done by anyone at any age or fitness level, so give it a try at a local class to see if it’s right for you.

Indoor Home Stairs Routine
You don’t need to head back out into the cold to hit the gym if you have a stairwell at your apartment or in your house. Just get into your best workout clothes and spend 15 minutes with a stairwell workout. It’s like having a step machine in your home, but it saves you from having to go back to the gym. Make sure to watch the intensity of your workout and slow things down if you need to since stairs are a constant cardio push.

When it’s cold outside, don’t let yourself get trapped in an unhealthy mindset. Thinking it’ll be easier to wait and just go to the gym once it’s warm outside can leave you sluggish and unfit. Instead, try something new, like an aquatic HIIT routine or something fun like ice skating. Use the cold weather to your advantage to get your exercise in while having a little fun.

Photo by Fil Mazzarino

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Kate Harveston

Kate Harveston

Kate Harveston is an online journalist from Pennsylvania. She enjoys writing about women's issues, career advice, and sociopolitical change. If you enjoy her writing, you can visit her at OnlySlightlyBiased.com.