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Tips on Staying Active This Winter






Staying active in the winter can be hard. With shorter days and colder weather, it’s hard to get off the cozy couch and motivate yourself to work out. Despite good intentions and New Year resolutions, many people don’t last long with a workout plan in the winter. This pause in activity can lead to injuries, muscle weakening, and also a weaker immune system! So how can we stay active in the winter?

Why Workout in Winter?

We know that working out in general is important, but here are some reasons why it is especially important to workout during the winter months:

  • Help your immune system

Winter is well-known as the cold and flu season because people get sick so often! One of the best ways to boost your immune system is regular exercise! Exercise helps lower stress in your body, and it stimulates the creation of cells to help fight infection! 

 

  • Burn Bonus Calories 

Doing activity outdoors in the winter can actually help you burn MORE calories than when you’re in a warm environment! This is because your body burns calories during the workout, AND it uses calories to keep your body warm! 

  • Keep You Fit for Summer Activities

A lot of people are excited for winter to end so they can start their summer activities again. But starting these activities up in the summer often requires you getting back into shape again, taking away from quality time in these activities. Working out in the winter can keep you in shape so that you can start your summer activities strong!

  • Prevent Injury and Disease

Staying active all year round, helps to keep your body strong and fit! The longer you go without exercise, the weaker your bones and muscles can get, heightening the risk for injury! Being active in the winter can even help to reduce the risk of falling, and can reduce risk of severe injury if you do fall.

Activities to Keep You Active

Going to the gym or on a treadmill at home aren’t the only ways to stay active in the winter. There are lots of fun winter activities you can try to keep you motivated to stay active!

  • Go for an Outdoor walk!

      • As mentioned before, being outdoors in the cold can help you burn more calories than when it’s warm out!
      • Make sure you bundle up and dress for the temperature!

  • Ski/Snowboarding

      • If you already know how to ski or snowboard, this is a great activity to start up again! It’s a great way to use your muscles and coordination while being outside in the cold!
      • If you haven’t tried these before, consider renting skis or a snowboard and trying a beginners hill to see if it’s something you enjoy! Many ski parks have instructors that can help you learn as well!

  • Skating/Hockey

      • There are lots of ice rinks around that you can use to skate! This is also a great way to get together with friends and family because you can chat and skate at the same time! 
      • Waterdown Memorial Park has an awesome free skating loop!

  • Sledding

    • No one is too old to go sledding! Find a hill near where you live and bring your kids, grandkids, or friends to sled! The walk up the hill is a great workout and then you get to have fun while you slide down! 


Conclusion

Winter can really give you the blues, which makes it extra important to stay active! Whether you go to the gym, try your hand at skiing, or take your kids sledding, find a winter activity that motivates you to move! Another great tip is finding someone to do the activities with you so that you can motivate each other - this can also give you a great excuse to see an old friend more!

 

P.S. If you struggle to stay motivated to workout during the winter, book with our staff here or by calling 905-689-2552 so we can help you come up with an exercise and activity plan that motivates you to workout this winter!
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