Exercise Options for Major Cold Weather

[loveabull]

They're saying the real feel temperature will be -11 tomorrow. Do some of you feel sorta down when you have a day with minimal steps as compared to a fully charged day? What are some indoor walking ideas? I'm off and the mall is nice and warm, PetSmart with the dog has big space, even grocery shopping. Any more?

[Jabrat]

@loveabull I mall walk - treadmill - do Leslie Sansone tapes - walk at work downstairs inside - I work in a high rise!  Many options!  Step to music in the house!  When the temperatures are bearable - I power walk outside - love it!

[Pril]

I made a mini obstacle course in my home, at work, anywhere really.  I have one where I go room to room and up and down the stairs.  I get 1 floor and 120 steps .. so I do this every half hour or so.

At work tho I have one that gives me 2 floors and 300 steps. Each one is well under 5 minutes to complete and some you could do twice if you had the time. 

Not the best idea but it keeps ya moving!

Warm wishes!

[GarudaGirl]

I do a lot of stairs. I never thought it was going to be effective, but it is. I do sets of ten flights, up and down, and I actually break a sweat. That's what I use as my exercise when I get home late at night. Works well in a pinch.

[Maxit]

I really noticed a hit on my mood - I bundle up for cold weather (Wisconsin resident) but there is no way I can keep up my summer pace of walking.  My minimally exposed skin is subject to frostbite when it's that cold, and the ice/snow on the walkway is an impediment (in my 60's - I do NOT want to fall).  I do the best I can outside and have resumed going to the Y both for treadmill and for lifting.  It is SO hard to get out to do it, though, so I throw my gym bag in the car whenever I am going out for another reason and hit the Y on the way home.    For me, other in-door alternatives just don't work when it comes to the mood lift.

[SunsetRunner]

Being Canadian, I know quite a bit about cold weather. Today, for example, it's -25 C with the wind, which is -13 F. Earlier this month, it was -55 for a couple days with the wind. Basically.. it's all in your mind. I do agree that if I don't have enough steps in a day, that my mood goes down and I feel blah. So.. I just dress up warm and do smaller walks more often outside. It takes me about 10 minutes to walk to work, so I do that 4 times a day. Breaking it up helps a lot. At home, I sometimes even just walk in place in front of my TV.

[SunsetRunner]

jog on the spot whilst watching tv

[ponydoc]

Some days I just put a cd of music and dance to it.  No shame!  But it does raise the heart rate and step count.  Plus it doesn't feel like I'm making myself exercise.  Might be a good option.

[MichaelF18]

I went for a run this morning (Toronto) and could barely handle 6.8m (8k) because of the frigid temperature. It was brutal.

[SalJen]

I try to get out on lots of short walks if possible.  I will also walk,sway, and dance in the house, and sometimes make my living room/dining room/hallway into a track that I go round and round.  I feel kind of stupid, but whatever works to get my steps in.  Like someone else said, I feel much worse if I don't get my steps in, so I don't care how I get it, just MOVE.  Sometimes it seems to take all day!

[Heybales]

Resistance training, strength training.

Who says a good workout has to have steps in it.

Dare say, there are more non-step type workouts you could do inside that will transform your body more than steps outside.

But it may not put you at the top of a leaderboard.

Then again, are people going to look at you and how you look, or your placement on a step leaderboard?

[PaleoCrossfit]

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Who says a good workout has to have steps in it.

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Exactly what @Heybales said. As competitive as I am, I know that most of my workouts don't include steps. (Squats, anyone?). Five sets of 20 squats beats 100 steps ANY day.

[kg4ulu]

We have been experiencing that kind of weather and the wonderful blizzard.  I bundle up and take the dog out for her potty breaks and walk the yard with her.  I also use my stairs and even walk around the house, stairs are central of the house, to get in steps and cardio.  Workout videos are great or even go on Pinterest and see what kind of indoor, non-machine workouts you can do.  Maybe look for hotel room workouts.  I use those when I have to go out of town and can't do my regular routine.

Hope this helps!

[Nick17]

@Heybales  Exactly!  Physical activity can take so many forms; it doesn't have to just be walking.

I strength train regularly, but there are so many good options for in-home workouts to get in physical activity.  Resistance bands are a great, inexpensive option...they are portable, take up little space, and can give you a pretty good workout.  Adjustable dumbbells along with a utility bench are cheaper than a gym membership, allow for a variety of different exercises, and again, don't take up alot of space.