If winter has you singing the blues because you have to set aside some of your workout routine due to the bad weather, don't look so glum. Here are some ideas for workouts you can do in the winter -- both indoors and outdoors.
The main objective with any workout program is to increase your heart rate, which burns calories. Bearing that in mind, look for opportunities to increase your heart rate. Create a combination of exercises that target the area of your body you want to strengthen or tone. Throw a mat on the floor and workout for 15 or 20 minutes every 2-3 days. Not enough room in the house? Climb some stairs instead.
You'd be surprised at how quickly your heart rate increases when climbing stairs. Climb up and down your stairwell for 10 minutes without stopping for a great warmup. Keep going until you reach your target heart rate.
Go dancing a couple of times a week. The benefits of dance include stress reduction, better body alignment, increased agility and because of its aerobic attributes, it strengthens the heart. Additionally, hundreds of calories are burned up while dancing.
All women will agree housework is a workout in and of itself. The problem there is your body is so trained in what it takes to do that housework it's not really subjected to something out of its normal activity level. Change that by wearing ankle weights while you clean. Do toe lifts while you're washing the dishes. (Lift your heels up off the floor until your body is supported by only your toes. Hold for a few seconds, and lower. Repeat)
If space permits, throw a workout tape in the DVD player or VCR and have at it. Even if you just have a few minutes, a segment or two of a good workout DVD will offer great benefits.
Ice skating and sledding are terrific forms of exercise. Not only does it not feel like exercise, but the whole family can join in as well. Cross-country or downhill skiing are good options, too. Be sure your gear is in good working order in order to avoid injury.
No matter what form of outside exercise you do, be sure never to do it alone -- it's too risky. If you should get injured, it's not quite as easy to get help when there's a foot of snow on the ground or the roads aren't passable. It's always better to have someone who can help you or go get help if something should go wrong.
Any combination of these activities will help you ward off those extra pounds we so often put on when winter rolls around each year.
Whatever you ultimately decide is the best for you, don't forget to rest as well. Muscles that are overworked are more susceptible to injury, and a body that is deprived of rest will end up with a weakened immune system. Be sure to get a proper night's sleep to rejuvenate your system.