Winter activites for the whole family to enjoy

Winter activities for the whole family to enjoy
Although you may want to stay snuggled up in your warm bed, winter shouldn't be a time that your fitness plans hibernate, especially with all of those holiday treats around.

With the right attitude and mix of exercises, winter can actually be a fantastic time to mix up your workouts, get creative and even reignite your love of fitness by trying new, fun activities. Not to mention, exercise can help you beat those winter blues!

Here’s how to make the most of winter workouts.

Change your mind. Winter isn't just about cold weather; it's a whole new season. Embrace the time of year by sitting down and revisiting your goals, then plan out what you'd like to accomplish during the next few months. We're all so busy these days that time seems to fly, which is why it's important to reflect on our past accomplishments and current goals.

Go out and play. You can burn quite a few calories playing indoors or out. The best part about playing is that it doesn't feel like working out, though you can still get your heart rate up and have an excellent cardio session. Have a blast in the winter wonderland outside by making snow angels (214 calories burned per hour on average), having a snowball fight (319 calories burned per hour), or even building a snowman (285 calories burned per hour). No snow in your area? Try ice skating, an activity you can do indoors or outdoors. Ice skating can burn more than 450 calories per hour, and it's a blast!

Take up a winter sport. If you're a competitive type, why not try a new winter sport? From skiing to snowshoeing, there are many great options that burn mega calories and put a whole new twist on your cold-weather workout plans.

Get creative at home. Sure, getting to the gym can be more of a hassle when it is cold outside, but never use snowy weather as an excuse to miss your daily exercise. Instead, work out at home.

Whether you pop in a new workout DVD, invest in a few pieces of fitness equipment or even just use your body weight for a killer workout, exercising at home can be a convenient (and fun) solution to staying on track.

Get excited. If you've never been a winter fan, start focusing on what you do love about it and how this time of year provides new opportunities for your fitness and health. From eating delicious in-season produce (oranges, kale, and chestnuts, oh my!), to curling up with a big mug of sugar­free hot cocoa in front of the fireplace after a long workout, there is much to love about winter when you embrace and appreciate it. While there are many great workout options this winter, but most of all have fun. It's a wonderful time of year. Enjoy it. For more local winter activities, ideas and links, visit the HSC2020 site at healthysheboygancounty. org/committees/activity- and-nutrition-scan/local- resources/.

Brooke Artabasy is health promotion coordinator at Aurora Healthcare