Fight away those winter blues by taking advantage of the frigid winter weather. Get outdoors or head to a local ice rink to get active for the day. You don’t have to go solo. Many winter sports are activities that the entire family or group of friends can participate. These winter activities are a blast and will make you forget about worrying how many calories you are burning. You’ll be more focused on the fun time you are having!
These 7 novel ways to exercise during winter will guarantee an enjoyable time while giving you the holiday workout that you need.
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Snow Skiing
Hit the slopes and get some sun while snow skiing. Gather up the family and call up your friends because skiing is a great group activity. Skiing is a sport that works major muscle groups, especially your legs. Your arms, shoulders, and back will get used in ways you aren’t used to as well. Skiing will challenge your balance and gives you a cardiovascular workout. A solid hour of skiing will burn around 300 calories or more.
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Snowboarding
Snowboarding may be more your style for a day on the ski mountain. Snowboarding offers you a great full body workout and works the major muscle groups. Your time on the board will push your leg muscles. Staying upright and balanced will work your core, back, and arms. The fast paced change of directions will also challenge your flexibility. Snowboarding for an hour can burn around 300-600 calories depending on your height, weight, and rigor.
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Ice Skating
Grab a pair of skates and hit the ice rink. Ice skating is a low impact exercise that works your leg muscles. Your balance, flexibility, and agility will be tested with your time on the ice rink. Burn around 400 calories with an hour of ice skating.
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Snowshoeing
Trudging through the snow with a pair of snowshoes will get your cardio in. Snowshoeing is a low impact exercise that burns up to twice as many calories as a normal walk does. Snowshoeing will build your endurance, agility, and balance while strengthening too. Depending on the terrain and intensity, snowshoeing can burn up to 400 to 1000 calories in an hour.
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Hockey
Ice hockey is a perfect winter sport for a group. Like ice skating, hockey also works your lower body while challenging your balance. With the added work of maneuvering a hockey stick, your upper body will received an additional workout. So gather up a group and go for the goal! An hour of hockey can burn anywhere between 400 to 600 calories.
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Cross Country Skiing
Glide across the snow by going cross country skiing. Work your whole body to propel yourself across the snow. Cross country skiing will get your blood flowing and your heart pumping. Cross country is a low impact exercise option that will still work your cardiovascular system. You’ll work all the major muscle groups and challenge your balance. Your core will especially be worked go keep you upright and on your feet. An hour of recreational cross country skiing can burn as many as 600 calories an hour.
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Winter Walks
Take a walk around your neighborhood or head to a local park to get active. Getting outside for simply even walking will boost your mood and will use some of that pent up winter energy. Be sure to bundle up as you venture out for a walk and watch out for icy patches. You can burn up to 200 to 300 calories by walking for an hour.
If your winter activity does take you outside make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. Wearing layers of clothing will provide you with some insulation and you’ll still be able to move. The cold weather could make you forget about the importance of hydration, so be sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after a workout. Don’t forget the sunscreen if you’re spending a day out on the slopes. The high elevation and the snow reflecting the sun will increase your chances of getting a sunburn.
Gather up your gear and head out to get moving with one of these fun winter exercises!
Skylar Starbuck is a 22 year old college student who has a passion for leading an overall healthy lifestyle. Before going off to college Skylar had always been involved in year round athletics in school, so her personal fitness journey began her freshman year of college. She then realized that it was now up to her to take care of her physical... Read More
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