Ask the Readers: How Do You Stay Active in the Winter?
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We're smack in the middle of winter, and in most places, it's some combination of cold, wet, and frosty. While it's tempting to stay in all day and avoid the bad weather, it's important for our mind and bodies to stay active through the season.
How do you stay active in winter? Do prefer indoor our outdoor activities, or a bit of both? Do you have a set exercise regimen to keep you moving?
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I have three ways to stay active during winter:
- I start my day with 15 minutes of exercises using the Sworkit app (30 seconds bodyweight exercise in random mode).
- I walk to the subway instead of taking the train (2 times 20 min).
- I joined a bootcamp training for the winter (once a week) and try to do some indoor sport (soccer at the moment).
I like to do yoga, and will work out indoors, but the dog still needs to go on a walk when the temperature drops!
I go to Pilates because I have to sign up in advance; once it's on my calendar I'm committed. I also have a pedal exerciser I got on Amazon that I use while I'm sitting on my couch if it was too cold to go outside for a run. Not the same but better than nothing!
I walk on the track at the community center.
I've started doing body-weight exercises like push-ups each day. I also square dance.
I don't do it well. Walking/hiking is my main form of exercise, and it is tough in the winter. Although winters are relatively mild and the sun is out... I try to shoot for getting out days that are in the 50's or colder but not too windy, but overall I definitely exercise less this time of year!
I stay active by walking every day
I like to stay active in the winter by exercising -- indoors -- and I love YouTube for their incredible variety of fitness videos. Every morning and some evenings I pick something and exercise with whatever time I have that day. I still try to walk our dogs regularly but I do not enjoy being outside on the cold, dreary days of winter.
I used my friend network on facebook to get a treadmill for which I ended up paying 100 dollars. I walk and run at least 2 miles a day. I also use my new fancy iPhone that my husband got for me for Christmas (I had a flip phone for the last 10 years) to track my steps. I try to get at least 10,000 steps a day.
Hot yoga is always great - even on the coldest of days, you'll get warm as soon as you step into the room! Since the days seem short and sun sets so early, I also try to get some long walks and runs on the weekends when I have more time during the day. And I discovered the '4 minute workout' which I try to do every morning. It's 20 seconds of activity followed by a 10 second rest so it's an easy way to get your blood moving when you don't want to leave your warm bed! (it's free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quick-4-minute-workout-tabata/id80349168...)
Luckily it doesn't get that cold here in the South so I take walks to stay active.
Living in a very cold, snowy climate it's not easy. But when it's at least a little "warm" (like in the 30s and up) I walk my dogs longer outside. Most days I play with the dogs indoors, running around, throwing a ball for them, etc.
I stay active by walking 5 days a week, rain or shine!
I am a rancher and must be outside no matter what the weather. Tackling a big project like fencing or digging trenches helps us stay warm. Better than trying to do the same in the blazing heat of the summer!
I go running outside in the winter even in the freezing temperatures. I have the clothing needed to keep me warm and I love it.
I try new classes at the gym to fit in exercise. Keeps things different and fun without having to go out in the cold.
I don't have the discipline to make myself exercise outside in the frigid winter weather in upstate NY, so I join the gym during the winter months. The different machines add some variety to my workout, and having a gym buddy helps me stick with it!
I walk in the winter because our winter daytime temps average 75. A cold spell for us is 40 in the daytime!
Pilates with Cardio and workouts on youtube are my go to when the weather is bad. I'll turn on swing dance lesson videos for the kids and I for cardio. There is also a park with a track around the play set. Unless it's miserable, we go and I run while the kids play.
I workout 4x a week. 3x with friends in a fitness class first thing in the morning.
I like to stay active in winter by hitting the gym every week.
I jog 1 1/2 miles every morning. I have 5 pound weights that I use at home daily. I attend Zumba tone two evenings a week. On the weekends, I ride my bike.
I play basketball at an indoor community court. Not as often as I'd like, but I try to play at least twice a week.
I stay active by going to a zumba class twice a week, walking, and occasionally doing a Jillian Michaels' workout on DVD at home. They're typically only 25 to 30 minutes. Tough, but doable.
If it's sunny, not too windy, and/or 50 degrees or above, I'm outside hiking, biking, jogging, or walking, with SUP and kayaking in the summer. If it's cloudy, windy, and/or below 50, I'm inside lifting weights, spinning, belly dancing, doing yoga, performing HIIT, or doing Pilates. I miss the sunny, warm Phoenix winters and I'm trying to get acclimated to the all-over-the-place Austin winter weather! I've learned you have to have two plans of action every day for workouts, one for outdoors and one for indoors.
Walk to work.
With my job, I get plenty of exercise, in cleaning, organizing, putting things away, shoveling snow, and mopping the entire store.
I hit the gym after work since I'm out and about anyway.
I make sure to take classes at my gym since that's often a lot warmer than outside. For working out outdoors, I make sure that I have the proper clothing so I can't use being too cold as an excuse.
I don't like the cold weather at all. I walk in the mall in the morning, and the hallways at work at lunch. It's not a lot of fun, but it's better than sitting.
I admit it's not a very fitness-oriented time for us. There's a lot of downtime after the holidays, trying to relax and take it slow.
I exercise inside on my treadmill.
I use my treadmill!
Exercise equipment inside.
I walk to the post office whenever I need to mail something and bike indoors. I also do squats and lunges.
I like to go for a walk in the mornings.
I try to do a workout video everyday, which doesn't always happen with a toddler and a baby. Of course, I'm chasing them about which counts for something!
I walk just about every day.
Staying active in winter isn't the problem in northern California that it is in other parts of the country. However, I am a wimp when it comes to chill and rain. I exercise more indoors to DVDs and free YouTube videos for aerobics and strength conditioning. I also take a class. This season I'm taking a Pilates class offered at a discount to members of my healthcare insurance plan.
I stay active by walking inside the house for at least 60 minutes a day getting at least 6,000 steps. I also use the treadmill and sauna, do Pilates, yoga, and tend to my woodstove.
It's not easy because I work at home and can sometimes not leave the house for days. If the weather is above freezing (preferably at least 40) and sunny I will be walking the dog (even he doesn't like to go out in winter). If the weather is bad/really cold I will do the dance game on the Wii with my younger daughter.
I run, skip, and gallop up and down our long hallway with my toddler.
I am a runner so winter is my down time, I still run but cut down to about 20-25 miles a week (mostly on the treadmill). I also take classes at my gym. In the summer I am rarely at the gym but in the winter I go about 3-5 times a week. At work, during lunch, I may go walking with a few coworkers too.
I play ice hockey, which makes sense in the winter... I also TRY to go to the gym but I won't lie -- when it's 2 degrees outside I stay in and watch TV!
I have small children so I like to take them out to play in the snow
I usually just take my workout indoors either at the gym at my apartment complex or by doing workout videos I find on youtube. I have a half-membership at the gym on my university's campus, so part of the time I will go there and run on the indoor track if the treadmill isn't doing it for me. Very rarely, I mean really rarely, and it can't be super cold, I will bundle up and try to run outside, but that doesn't usually last too long.
I sign up for a mid-winter race (something long, like 10 miles). Then I have to go out and run in the cold or the race will be miserable! I also do T25 and walk the dog.
I add some P90X workouts when the weather gets bad and I can't make it to the gym!
Sometimes I need to remind myself that just because it's cold or raining a little (I live in the NW) it doesn't mean you can't go outside. I layer up, put in my headphones and go. It's uncomfortable for about 5 minutes and then I realize that the winter is so beautiful. It's quiet, parks and trails are less crowed and I often see animals I don't see in hotter months.
My husband and I decided to invest in a small home gym several years ago. It's much cheaper than a commercial gym and there are no excuses for not getting a workout in at least 5 days a week. If the temperatures are in the mid 30's or better, we try to get outside on weekends for a walk, hike or snowshoeing.
We do "dance parties" with the kids. It's a fun way to be active when it's too cold to go outside.
I'm bad about it, but I try to go to the gym. I'm hoping to get better soon!
I use my treadmill in the comfort of my house.
My dog, Cooper, keeps me walking year around. He also likes to dance when we are inside listening to music.
I tend to do yoga and run on my treadmill indoors because it gets too cold and icy outside.
I've recently started doing blogilates videos that I can do in my living room.
i use the gym or workout videos at home.
I bundle up and walk at lunch break.
Our apartment complex has a fitness center.
I take the dog for a walk, play with the kids in the snow, go sledding or ice skating...anything we can when the temp is warm enough to get outside! It gets hard when we get these below zero temps!
We live where it's warm enough to be outdoors at least some of the time. So we do our usual walks, sometimes during the day, instead of the evening. I'm considering getting a rebounder to use when the weather is bad. We don't have space for a treadmill, so this might be a good option.
I do high interval intensive trainning (HIIT) at home. If I'm brave enough i'll go running around my block. On the weekdays I go to my jujitsu class and train there.
I use exercise videos in the winter.
I lift weights at home
I live in Florida so it is still nice to get out and walk every day.
I'm one of those mall walkers!
I like to do workout videos on youtube so I can do them in my own living room.
We are looking into buying a treadmill for winter walking indoors. I also like to do videos that I find on youtube such as indoor walking or weights.