By Ashley Nielsen
Image by gpointstudio on Freepik
Winter is on its way, which means you won't be able to spend as much time as you want outdoors. Depending on where you live, you may have to change up your fitness routine to continue getting exercise during the cold, snowy winter months. While you can't run outside in below-freezing temperatures, there are still many fun and exciting exercise options to choose from during the winter. Here are a few easy beginner winter workouts:
Spinning
Spinning is using an indoor exercise bike to get your heart pumping and burn calories. While you can't ride a bike on ice and snow, you can still ride a stationary bike inside to reach your fitness goals by joining a spin class or using an exercise bike at home and watching Youtube videos, or subscribing to a virtual class. Intense indoor cycling burns calories quickly and can help trim fat, strengthen bones, and reduce stress. The best part is you don't need to go outside to reap these rewards; instead, you can spin in the comfort of your own home or at the gym if you don't have the equipment.
Swimming
Swimming works every muscle in your body, and you can swim no matter the season as long as you have access to an indoor pool. Gyms and community centers have indoor pools anyone can use to swim laps and burn calories. Swimming is a low-impact exercise anyone can enjoy and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases while supporting healthy muscles and joints.
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Rock Climbing
If you're looking for an exercise that can double as a hobby, consider rock climbing. Rock climbing is a type of cardio that requires you to use different types of static and dynamic movements to pull yourself up on rocks, jump to other positions, and ultimately reach the top of the wall. Climbing a rock wall requires great hand strength and leg power, so while you might not be good at it at first, you can eventually build muscle and improve your skills over time.
Ice Skating
One of the best ways to exercise in the winter is by ice skating outside. Your city may have a public outdoor rink, or you may have to visit your local indoor rinks to skate, but either way, it's a great way to have fun while working out. Skating tones the legs and core while improving balance and coordination, which is important as you age. Ice skating also burns hundreds of calories an hour, as if you needed a bonus reason to hit the rink.
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Dancing
If you love grooving to your favorite tunes, dancing is a great way to stay in shape and burn calories without having to learn any new skills, and you don't have to be a professional dancer to enjoy it. Dancing around your home while doing chores, cooking dinner, or just for the fun of it can burn hundreds of calories an hour, and you can dance whenever you feel like it without any additional equipment.
Yoga
Yoga is another great way to stay in shape during the winter. Of course, you can do yoga outside during the warm months, but it's not necessary. If you're new to yoga, consider taking a beginner class or watching online videos to help you learn different poses. As you build your strength and flexibility, you'll be able to improve your skills and do more advanced yoga poses.
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Pilates
Pilates is another great aerobic exercise if you get bored doing yoga and want something a little faster-paced. Pilates can help you break a sweat, burn calories, and strengthen your core while improving flexibility. The best part about Pilates is that you can modify any movement to fit your fitness level. For example, if you're not strong enough for a plank, you can do modified planks until you build up your strength for a more advanced move.
Basketball
There's no need to force yourself to do any type of workout you don't want to do. However, there are several ways to make working out fun, including playing your favorite sports like basketball. You can visit your local gym or community center with a few friends to shoot some hoops and burn a few hundred calories an hour.
Snowboarding
There's no better time to hop on your snowboard than winter, and snowboarding can burn hundreds of calories while working your lower body and core as long as you have the right technique. If you've never tried snowboarding before, you can take classes until you have the skills to ride the slopes yourself.
Photo: Pexels
Sledding
If you want to have some fun this snowy season, consider sledding with the family. All you need to sled is a sled or something you can turn into a sled and a hill. Everyone loves sledding, and it's something the entire family can enjoy. Of course, if you plan on going sledding, ensure everyone is properly bundled up to prevent cold temperatures from ruining a good time.
Using Machines
Exercise machines are another great way to work out during the winter, and you don't have to learn any new workouts or follow videos to burn calories. Instead, you can invest in a treadmill, indoor bike, elliptical, or any other type of machine and use it regularly to burn calories and keep the winter weight off.
Walking the Dog
Even though the weather is frightening, dogs must go outside during the winter to relieve themselves. If it's not too cold out, you can bundle yourself and your furry friend up in winter attire, warm and comfortable activewear, and boots and go for a long walk. Of course, don't keep your dog in the cold too long, especially if there's snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your dog, so you won't be able to walk them every day in the winter. Instead, try walking them during the warmest times of the day and avoid walking them in below-freezing temperatures.
Final Thoughts
Working out in the winter can be challenging if you love exercising outdoors. However, there are many ways you can keep the winter weight off with regular exercise and healthy meal kits. Even though you can't go running outside in below-freezing temperatures, you can invest in a gym membership and run on machines to get the same results.
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