Baby It's Cold Outside!

I am not a fan of cold weather.  When winter comes, I dread the thought of Jack Frost nipping at my nose.  Even as I write this, I am less than three feet away from the fire burning in our fireplace.  This can have a dramatic affect on personal fitness.  The colder it gets, the less likely I am to be active.  In fact, winter time is when I am most likely to pack on the pounds.

Maybe you can relate.  Winter months may contain the most wonderful time of the year, but maybe you are not a fan of climate when this magical time occurs.  So what do we do?  Hibernate and hope to sweat off the excess weight when summer comes?  Surely we can still be active without turning into a human popsicle.  I have a few friends who dislike cold weather (some even more than I do).  Here is how they beat the cold and stayed in shape.

"The P90X Challenge"

Some take the opportunity to go inside for 90 days and participate in an intense video workout challenge known as P90X.  Tony is your guide through three months of workouts that are as physically challenging as any other workout available.  This is not your mother's old VHS "Jazzercise" (no disrespect to those out there who enjoy sweating to the oldies).  This is a demanding and time consuming way to get into shape or maintain fitness while staying indoors.  The price for ordering the package online can be steep, but if your know someone who has been through it you cannot argue with the results.

"Seaonal Gym Memberships"

Some friends have opted to buy a gym membership in the winter months.  Usually, this means paying the monthly rate without signing a long term agreement.  Using the gym's treadmills, cardio equipment, and weights can be an excellent way to stay in shape when the conditions outside aren't the best.  The biggest deterent with this option is a lack of commitment.  (If you are considering this approach, read last week's post entitled, "Do Gym's Work?")

"Discover An Indoor Sport"

Games of pick-up basketball, indoor soccer, hockey and so many other sports can be found during the winter months.  If you have a few friends you a trying to stay in shape with, get them together for the sport.  Make sure you are playing with enough consistency to make a real difference.  If you are only playing racquetball once a month during December, January, and February it is not going to make a real difference.

There are plenty of options to stay warm during workouts throughout the winter months.  Don't let the cold be an excuse to let yourself go!