Don’t let the cold weather be your excuse for an unhealthy lifestyle during Winter!
Winter is often a welcomed change after our long hot Summers, but this doesn’t mean we have to drop the ball with our normal healthy lifestyle routine.
Does your fitness go into hibernation during the cooler months?
When you’re busy and tired during the colder months, it’s easy to put off exercise till tomorrow. But sticking to a regular fitness routine is vital if you want to stay in shape and take care of your health.
The two biggest challenges associated with exercise during winter are finding a place to train – outdoors, indoors or at home – and finding the motivation to stay active.
Outdoor Exercise:
- Wear suitable clothing with fabrics that keep moisture away from your skin
- Wear a hat, as one-third of your body’s heat loss occurs at the head
- Dress in light layers so that you can gradually peel them off as you begin to warm up. You can then add these layers back on at the end of your workout
- Keep your fluids up as cold weather simulates urine production, and every breath you can see is water droplets being exhaled from your body
- Communicate any medical concerns with your doctor, as exercising in cold weather can bring on angina (heart-related chest pain), and may trigger asthma in asthmatics.
Indoor Exercise:
There are a number of options if you want to exercise indoors. This winter, consider:
- Joining a gym. Health and fitness centres provide a wide variety of exercise options in a comfortable and supportive environment. A three-month membership will get you through winter without too much expense.
- Indoor sports. Many sports can be played indoors, such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash and soccer. Investigate your local area to see if any competitions exist, or start up your own.
- Indoor climbing. If you aren’t afraid of heights, indoor climbing centres offer a unique way of boosting your strength and stamina. Climbing walls are usually graded to suit all levels of strength and ability.
- Aqua training. If you live near an indoor heated pool, you could swim some laps, or try an aquarobics class. Training in water has a low risk of injury, and is a great way to add variety to your workout routine.
- Mind/body classes. Activities such as Pilates and yoga are often available at halls, studios and other venues. These activities can help develop your balance, posture, core strength and flexibility, and help you to relax at the same time. See our reception staff for our Lifestyle Pilates timetable!
At Home Exercise:
When it’s cold and miserable, and you don’t even want to step foot outside, having some exercise options at home can make all the difference. You could try this at-home workout circuit:
Cardiovascular exercises –
- Star jumps
- Skipping
- Shadow boxing
- Step-ups (on a small, sturdy box, step or chair)
- Jogging on the spot
Toning and strengthening exercises –
- Push-ups (on your knees or toes)
- Chair dips
- Weightless squats (performed slowly)
- Weightless lunges
- Hand weight exercises
Follow this easy 4 ingredient recipe for a yummy pumpkin soup!
Ingredients:
4kg Pumpkin, peeled and chopped into large chunks
3 cups chicken stock
1 large onion, peeled & diced
150g bacon pieces
¼ cup milk (optional)
Method:
1. In a large saucepan over high heat, add the pumpkin and chicken stock. Bring to the boil then reduce to medium heat.
2. In a large microwave safe bowl, add onion and bacon. Cover and microwave on high for 2 mins. Stir, then microwave for a further 2 mins.
3. Add the cooked onion and bacon to the boiling pumpkin and stir through.
4. Cook for 20 mins or until pumpkin is very soft. Remove from heat.
5. Using a stick mixer, blend up the contents of the saucepan until smooth. OPTIONAL ** add milk and blend until smooth. If it is too thick, add a little more water until you reach your desired consistency.
6. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until dinner time