It’s hoodie weather!
I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly adore this time of year. Cooler fall temperatures allow me to exercise outdoors without the excess energy drain of my body working overtime to keep me cool.
Working out is just plain easier.
Easier workouts translate into longer workouts. And longer workouts translate into more pounds lost!
But hoodie weather has a downside.
Hoodie weather is a harbinger of even colder weather to come. And as committed as I have become to regular workouts, I find it VERY HARD to get motivated to go outside when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.
I can’t be alone, here, can I?
Surely not.
So, in a matter of weeks, when wintertime temperatures drive my workout – and yours – indoors, let’s try to find creative ways to remain committed to staying active so that once spring arrives, we’ll still have all the energy we need to get back outside where we belong!
Here are a few indoor exercises I’m planning on integrating into my routine. If your doctor or the consultants here at Mediplan Diet Services say you’re healthy enough for these, give them a try this winter, too.
Jump Rope
No kidding! Jump ropes aren’t just for kids’ playground and boxing gyms, they provide for an amazing aerobic exercise.
If you don’t regularly use a jump rope in your workout regimen, start slowly! Within a minute or two, you’ll feel your heart pumping and calves burning. Take a breather after a few reps, but push yourself to continue with additional reps before your pulse falls back to its resting rate.
Stair Stepping
Only have a ranch-style one-story? Not really a problem. You don’t need to race up and down a flight of a dozen stairs for an effective stair step workout.
Think about that single step down into the kid’s playroom. It’s perfect for a great low-impact calf exercise.
You know, your stair doesn’t even have to be an actual stair. Remember that insanely large encyclopedia that no one’s cracked open since the invention of Google? Place it on the floor and start stepping!
Planking
Here’s one you certainly should never do during an outdoor morning run, anyway!
Seriously, a properly executed plank exercise appears easy and perhaps even ineffective.
Until you try one for yourself.
Lie flat on your belly, then lift yourself up onto your elbows and toes. Keep your elbows shoulder width apart, your forearms flat on the floor, and your back hips and legs in straight alignment.
Hold that position for 30 seconds and you’ll begin to feel the burn in your abs. Throughout the winter, increase your hold time from 30 seconds to as long as you can and enjoy the benefits of a stronger core and flatter abs by spring.
Add these to your treadmill time this winter for a more complete – and more enjoyable – exercise routine.
For more exercise tips you can use this winter – or year-round – call Mediplan Diet Services today or click the Schedule an Appointment button at the top of this page. Our team of health and fitness experts can design a workout personalized to your body, your health, and your life.