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With colder weather approaching, motivation to go outside and participate in activities can get difficult. A lot of guys prefer to hunker down, throw something hearty in the crockpot for the day and hibernate like the other mammals.
While this sounds amazing to most, it may not be the best thing for your health…or your beach body.
Despite the changing of the seasons, it’s still possible to stay fit and do activities that are both fun and healthy. Here are a couple of things you can do to sneak in some indoor exercise and survive that winter gravy gut.
Battle Weight With Weights
One of the easiest ways to keep the ball rolling on your fitness routine is to lift some weights. If you have space and cash to build a home gym — even better!
However, you don’t need your own Gold’s basement to sneak in some weight training. Free weights are available at tons of stores and don’t take up too much square footage for storing. You can also use something like a kettlebell to do some ab workouts to battle the beer gut from football season.
With easy accessibility and simple storage, having some weights on hand can help you stay in shape when the weather outside is frightful.
Keep It on Ice
Did you know you can burn over 800 calories in an hour by ice skating?
The best part is — after you get the hang of keeping your balance — it’s pretty fun. You can make a day of it with your friends and family, or even use it as a date — although it’s a good idea to practice a couple of times before trying that.
Regardless of who you may choose to bring, skating is an excellent cardio workout and an indoor option to stay fit.
Bring the Game Inside
Miss playing sports when Jack Frost is rearing his ugly head on your field? You don’t have to say goodbye when conditions are less than ideal! Find an indoor sports facility that offers indoor games you can sign up for. Most courts can host multiple games and sports at the same time, so even if someone else is practicing their at-bats next to you, you won’t have to worry about getting clocked in the head with a ball during your soccer game.
Simple Switch-Ups
Even if you’re not feeling exercise or are just too busy to commit to a routine, there are other choices you can make to get more physical activity in during the day.
Instead of using the elevator at work, use the stairs. Taking the stairs helps cardiovascular health, and can even help you live longer. It’s a simple choice and can help you burn calories instead of electricity.
You can also decide to move more when you have a chance.
Commercial break? Get up and walk a couple of laps around the house or apartment. Waiting for your dinner to finish cooking? Do some sit-ups so you feel less guilty about not including more veggies in your meal.
Small amounts of physical activity are still better than none.
Be a Lean, Mean Winter Machine
Don’t let Mother Nature snow on your parade. There are plenty of indoor activities you can do to stay in shape, despite the impending food coma you may have to face during the holidays.
Keep your game face on and do your best to make active decisions this winter.
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Photo provided by the author.