Do you look out the window at sleet and snow and instantly lose motivation to work out? Or maybe you have a treadmill that acts as more of a storage unit. Use these winter-friendly tips to keep your heart rate up this season.
- Shovel instead of snow blowing. Sure snow blowing requires a certain amount of exertion, but when you shovel, you use your own motor (aka your heart) to heave the snow off the sidewalk. Protect your lower back while shoveling by using your leg muscles to lift a shovel-full of snow.
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Put the remote away. Whether your T.V. is mounted on the wall or at home in a floor unit, an extra few steps to and from the couch can really add up, especially if you're switching between college basketball and the Bachelor on Monday nights.
- Don't overindulge on hot chocolate. One mug of cocoa has 113 calories; add 121 calories if you're using 2 percent milk instead of water.
- Find your inner child and have fun in the snow. You're not too old to go sledding, and your leg muscles and glutes will thank you for those uphill hikes. Challenge yourself by running uphill or giving your little tike a ride up the hill in the sled. -Walk the dog instead of just letting him out into the yard.
We’d all like to curl up and settle in under the fleece blanket when the cold wind blows, but the point is to keep moving and maintain a healthy heart rate. Don’t know how to find your target heart rate? Calculate it here.
Written by: Erika Fifelski was born and raised in West Michigan, and after a brief stint on the sunrise side, she's home and loving it. Erika enjoys cooking, sewing, vacuuming, and discovering new ways to live sustainably and support local businesses. Photo: Phaedra Wilkinson
