Stay on Track with a December Fitness Routine

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Oh, December. The month that brings us friends, holidays, and fun also brings us food, cold, and a reluctance to work out. Although it can be difficult to coax yourself into workout mode when the temperature drops, you’ll feel much better about your health after the holidays if you challenge yourself to get some workouts in. Try some of these tips to keep your body on the move this December, and, of course, don’t forget to bundle up before going outside.

Try a New Sport

If cold weather prevents you from partaking in your usual preferred activity, think about trying a new exercise. Here are some suggestions:

• If you live where there are iced-over lakes, try a winter friendly activity like ice-skating.
• If you have a lot of snow in your area, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing is a great workout.
• Still don’t want to be outside? Swim some laps at the indoor pool or try an at-home workout video game.

Short Bursts

In lower temperatures, you won’t want to stay outside for prolonged periods, especially if it is windy out. However, there are some opportunities to stay active and get the blood flowing:

• Take the 10-minute walk to the store instead of driving.
• If you have a dog, they are likely tired of being inside, too. A short walk can benefit you both.
• Walk over to a neighbor’s house for a cup of coffee, and then take a longer route home.

Family Affair

Exercising usually is more fun when you have a friend or family members to come along with you. Try one of these methods for getting outside with a buddy:

• Take the kids geocaching. Look for caches that are relatively close to your house so you get a short walking workout in but don’t wander too far from home.
• If it has snowed recently, start a snowball fight or build a snowman.
• Throw around a football or Frisbee or create a circuit workout in your driveway. For example, 20 jumping jacks, jump rope, then lift water jugs. Switch stations every 30 seconds.

Look for Opportunities

Sometimes during the winter, your only option will be to look for chances to raise your heart rate. Any one of these tips can work for you:

• Take the stairs wherever you can.
• Shovel your own walkway and driveway. Be careful not to hurt your back, though!
• Trudge through snow. Need to check the mail but there’s a snow berm between the house and the mailbox? That’s OK, make some tracks and get your heart pumping.

If you are looking to workout during wintertime, there are plenty of options for making sure you get your heart pumping. As long as you are bundled up and wearing appropriate winter workout clothing, you should be ready to get outside whenever you get a chance to squeeze a workout into your schedule.