5 Posts are tagged with: winter_exercise

Fitness Resolutions: Shape-Up for Spring Break !

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Feb 13, 2009 by Sabah K.

We've said goodbye to holiday revelries and the season of New Year's resolution making, but promises to keep up with the fitness routine may have slipped into the abyss of post-holiday bliss.

Chilly temperatures, icy streets and cold, dark days are less-than-inviting reasons to head to the gym in the wee morning hours. Winter season may have you cooped up indoors, but there are plenty of ways to get buff and fit before it's time to hit the beach. Grab that yoga mat, pick up a new water bottle and jump into any of these fun indoor activities to boost that sluggish winter metabolism:

Spice Up the Day with Zumba
Get a DVD of this fitness craze to practice dance and cardio moves that will get your heart racing. Zumba workouts tap into your Latin-music-lovin' side so you can heat up your workouts with a little salsa, rumba and hip-hop - and do it all from the comforts of home!

The Great Yoga Tone-Up
Yoga moves designed to burn fat can tighten and tone your entire body, reshaping that couch-loving figure within a few weeks. Get this routine done early in the morning before breakfast for the ultimate calorie burn.

Become the Dumbbell Master
Grab a pair of 5- or 8-lb dumbbells and pace around the house or apartment while doing bicep curls, overhead presses and other simple arm lift exercises to tone up the upper body. Adding weights to a basic walk or stroll can burn up extra calories and train new muscle groups.

Do The Jump Rope Jive
A jump rope and a pair of tennis shoes are all you need to blast away over 800 calories per hour. Jump roping at a moderate pace will give your heart a mega-workout and condition your muscles to the max.

Practice Your Trampoline Pose
Mini-trampolines, also known as rebounders, give you a quick and easy way to tone up the lower body. Get your cardio blast any time of day with a quick 15-20 minute routine on the mini-trampoline; just load up the iPod with your favorite tunes and, jump, jump, jump around.

Just remember, spring break season is right around the corner, which means now is the time to step up the fitness routine and start melting away those excess pounds. Try any of these fun exercise routines to get a head start on that spring body.

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Healthier Lifestyle Week by Week: Keeping Up On Winter Exercises

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Jan 6, 2009 by Amy B.

While you may want to curl up and relax, it's important to keep your exercise program going during the winter months. After all, just think about how many more Holiday leftover sweets you can eat if you burn off the calories. In this week's blog, we'll discuss a few fun ways to burn calories this winter.

If you're a gamer, chances are you own a Nintendo Wii. If not, you really should consider it. Playing the Nintendo Wii will actually burn calories. Just 15 minutes of boxing on the Nintendo Wii burns 125 calories. This is the type of exercise you'll actually enjoy. If boxing isn't your cup of tea, play tennis. You can burn 92 calories every 15 minutes. Best of all, many of the Nintendo Wii games help you burn calories. For example, you'll burn hundreds of calories playing a couple hours worth of King of Fighters. Who said video games were bad for you? Get off the couch and burn some calories as you enjoy your favorite games.

Video games aren't for everyone. But most people do enjoy dancing. Dancing can be done inside your home as you watch TV or listen to music. You can even enjoy a romantic evening of slow dancing with your partner. Ten minutes of slow dancing will burn anywhere from 80 to 105 calories, depending on your weight. On the other hand, 10 minutes of fast-paced dancing will burn 94 to 124 calories. Dancing is not only a fun way to exercise on a cold winter's day, but it also tones your muscles leaving you with a fit body.

If you'd rather get outside and enjoy the weather, why not go skiing? Skiing is a wonderful way to burn calories. Depending on your weight, an hour's worth of downhill skiing will burn 340 to 510 calories. Best of all, it won't feel like exercise at all.

What are you waiting for? Enjoy an exercise that doesn't seem like exercise this winter.

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Fitness Resolutions: Winter Workout Mix for the Ultimate Calorie Burn

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Nov 21, 2008 by Sabah K.

Fitness gurus and personal trainers encourage us to try circuit training for that super-buff body we've been coveting all year, but when you're not disciplined enough to play boot camp master on every workout, chances are you just stick with your usual gym routine. Maybe this is the season to change things up and jump into some new activities? Heart-pumping winter sports including snowboarding, cross-country skiing and even snowshoeing. These are just a few ways to get out of that fitness rut and slip and slide into mega-calorie-burning mode.

If you're used to watching the ski bunnies from the comfort of your cabin all winter long, commit to at least one cross-country skiing session per week and enjoy a workout in the process. Skiing will get your metabolism revved up in no time, and it is the perfect excuse for taking in some fresh winter air. Just put on that puffy snow jacket or vest, grab some snow goggles and navigate down those slopes for a killer lower-body workout.

When you're anxious to try an extreme sport activity this season, head out on a snowboarding adventure with some boots and gloves that will keep you warm and protected against that harsh winter chill. Snowboarding will give you a chance to put your upper and lower body muscles to the ultimate test; you'll need to balance and maneuver that board across challenging terrain at a high speed, but this heart-pumping activity is sure to turn that calorie burn up a few notches.

No snow in your area this season? You can still change up your winter workout routine with a mountain biking trip or hiking excursion. Give that lower body the ultimate workout by adding weights to your ankles for resistance or loading up a backpack with extra gear. You can count on a super-calorie burning workout after just 20 to 30 minutes of constant movement.

Getting into a fitness rut is easy when your daily workout schedule consists of angst-ridden minutes of running on the treadmill and training for hours using the good old elliptical machine. Unfortunately, your body has probably adapted to the ho-hum routine, and you aren't burning off as many calories as you think during every workout. Jump into a fresh new workout routine to give your metabolism a boost and enjoy the great outdoors this winter.

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Baby Boomers: Beef Up Your Winter Athletic Wardrobe

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Nov 20, 2008 by Melissa L.

Baby boomers who have taken on new athletic ventures during the spring and summer season need only to beef up their athletic gear to stay warm for the fall and winter season. There is no need to discontinue a fitness program that has grown strong during the mild months or revert to training inside. The combination of crisp fresh air, nature and enjoying the outdoors is imperative to excellent physical health and overall wellbeing.

Selecting warm athletic clothing provides added warmth and comfort to the workout process. There are a couple of excellent lines of winter athletic gear from which to select including PUMA, Kuhl, Nike, Moving Comfort and others. A great choice for men's athletic gear for the upper body is the PUMA Winter Top, which is available in Vaporous Grey. Made from 100 percent polyester the PUMA Winter Top has a front zip, reflective logo on the front, reflective seam tape on the back and cuff and thumbhole grips. This is a great piece that can be layered over other pieces without feeling restricted from activity. The retail price for the PUMA Winter Topthe PUMA Winter Top is $69.95.

Winter weight leggings are also important to have, especially for runners. An excellent choice of winter leggings for baby boomer women is the Nike Winter Leggings, which are made from 95 percent cotton and 5 percent spandex for comfortable fit. Features of the Nike Winter Leggings include soft-rib fabrication, pieced-on waistband for comfort and the Nike logo on the left hip. Designed for comfort and warmth and also ideal for layering in extremely cold weather, the Nike Winter Leggings help to ensure warmth and keep baby boomers active during the winter season. The retail price for the Nike Winter Leggings is $46.

There is a variety of great winter active wear pieces baby boomers can add to their fitness wardrobe, which are all designed to ensure warmth and comfort and to promote the incentive to maintain one's fitness goals. Don't let a little bit of chilly weather get in the way of a great fitness routine.

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Baby Boomers: Ski Retreat

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Nov 13, 2008 by Rica

As winter approaches and baby boomers plan winter vacations, consider being innovative and bypass the traditional luxury cruise. In fact, why not get edgy and adventurous and consider a *ski vacation*? If you are a beginner, it is never too late to learn and that includes seeing baby boomers on the bunny slopes.

Beginners should know that actual ski equipment such as skis and boots can be rented so the focus should be upon warm clothing. Decide what is most comfortable for you and your body type. The focus should be on ski gear such as après-ski attire, ski pants, jackets, one-piece suits and basics. Baby boomers can take liberties with their après-ski attire and get as fashionable as desired, just insure that the gear is comfortable and conducive for the cold weather.

The basic clothing needed for skiing requires warm outer pants, jackets or one-piece suits that are insulated. Baby boomers who are also beginning skiers may enjoy the comfort of one-piece suits. A popular choice among female skiers is the Salomon Psychic One Piece available in Aqua Tint X. The loose-fitting, pull-on-pant, one-piece suit has a zip front closure and high-neck powder collar for warmth. Other features include an attached hood with faux fur trim, multiple pockets, goggle wipe, belted waistband and more. One of the key features of this garment is the vent system designed for maximum breathability while providing warmth and optimum insulation. The one-piece waterproof suit retails for $604.

The Salomon Conspiracy Piece for men is available in purple and made from climaPRO Storm Plain Wave 3L, which is fully waterproof and offers maximum breathability. The loose-fitting waterproof garment is machine washable and offers a pull-on-pant styling with full zip front closure and storm flap, high-neck powder collar, inner bit with suspenders, multiple pockets, hood attachment, goggle wipe and premiere ventilation system and retails for $604.

Where traditional cruise vacations may be the norm for baby boomers, live on the edge this year, ditch the cruise, get suited up, booted up and head for the bunny slopes.

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