HEALTH

Workouts

5 Fun Ways to Stay Fit in the Winter

Just 'cause the weather outside is frightful doesn't mean ya gotta stay cooped up inside all day long! But getting motivated to work out in the winter can be tough, so GL put together a list of 5 fun ways to stay in shape during these chilly months.

1. Take advantage of technology. Forcing yourself to work out or draggin' yourself out of the house in the cold can put ya in a bad mood. So, why not take advantage of the TV and computer? (And no, we're not talkin' 'bout chat rooms.) Pop in some fun workout DVDs, which ya can get from the library, or check to see if your TV channels have anything fun to offer (some cable services have fitness channels). Got a Wii for the holidays? Check out Wii Fit! Don't wanna spend money? Hit up YouTube to find fab at-home workouts, everything from kickboxing to belly busting routines.

2. Hit the snow! Can't beat it? Join it, right? After all, ya don't get this kind of icy weather in the summer months. Get a group of girls together to go for a mini ski, snowboarding or tubing trip. Don't live near cold weather? Fake it by spending a few afternoons at the ice skating ring. Pack fun, healthy lunches to bring along and share with your pals. My fave? Add sliced turkey, tonsa veggies and 2 tablespoons of hummus on a whole-wheat wrap for the perfect start to a wholesome lunch. Then, pair it with an apple and peanut butter or some whole-wheat pita chips to spice it up a bit.

3. Pump up the old-school music! Get together with your besties and bring tons of old CDs. Burn fun, new-to-you workout mixes and come up with hilarious dance routines to go along with them. Not into shaking it? Come up with a workout that mixes no-weights-needed moves (crunches, squats, lunges, pushups, jogging in place, jumping jacks) to match the music. Don't forget the sweatbands and legwarmers.

4. Get off your butt! Before you crash on the couch for the night, make sure you've done some kind of exercise. Can't get motivated? Commit to someone (or something). Making plans with peeps means you're more likely to stick to it. Hey, even offering to walk an older neighbor's dog on a regular basis is something!

5. Scan your house for props. I know whenever I don't feel like going to the gym, I make my own workout area in my home! You can do lunges down your hallway, chair squats against the walls and even run up and down the stairs (be careful!). Don't have weights to do your strength training? No prob. You can substitute canned veggies instead. As funny as ya may feel at first, they work. No excuses now!
by Rachel Chemerynski | 2/1/2016
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