NEXT AVENUE SPECIAL SECTION
How to Stay Fit Through a Long Winter By Rashelle Brown
Anyone living north of the Mason-Dixon line knows that winter can be a big obstacle to staying fit. Cold temperatures, short days and icy sidewalks can all conspire to keep you indoors and on the couch. Since daydreaming about summer won’t make it arrive any sooner, here are some tips to help you stay or get fit as we get through the rest of this winter. Track Your Active Minutes Unfortunately, channel surfing doesn’t count as exercise, so you’ve got to get up and move. Wearing an activity tracker is a great way to motivate yourself and hold yourself accountable. And many smartphones have native apps to track your steps and active minutes; there are tons of free or low-cost apps with even more features.
Whatever device you use, try to work your way up to 120 active minutes per day. This doesn’t have to be “official" exercise. House cleaning, doing laundry and cooking healthy meals are good ways to get up and moving, and if the mood strikes, dancing does wonders for body and mind alike. If you normally sit a lot at work, stand up as often as possible. You can even give yourself “active credit” for standing during the day: Count two minutes of standing as one minute of activity. Get Outside When You Can Don’t be afraid to go outside, weather permitting. There’s nothing more beautiful than a winter hike in the woods or on local trails. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your outdoor adventures: • Walking on snow-covered grass can be safer than sidewalks that may still have some ice on them. In either case, wear a good pair of boots or get a pair of ice cleats that fit over your boots or shoes. • An even safer bet may be to hike on trails. Just be sure you’re walking on trails that are well maintained. For etiquette’s sake, never walk on a cross-country ski trail. • Play like a kid! Go sledding, build a snowman, make snow angels. There’s nothing like a bright winter day to bring out the playful spirit in all of us.
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