Winter exercise might be a lot easier if you had the sunny outlook of Officer Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) in "Fargo": "It's a beautiful day," she says while driving through a colorless tundra of ice and snow. But that's hard to summon up sometimes. So, here's how to make winter workouts more fun, less bone-chilling, and less expensive than the gym!
For indoor workouts:
1. Start a new activity: Try a workout video; put your bike on a stationary stand in front of your TV (never watch without pedaling!); or put on tunes and dance for 20-30 minutes — and do it regularly.
2. Find a mall-walking group.
3. In an apartment building or at work, take up stair climbing from lobby to top floor and back. (Do it with a friend, and you'll do it more often.)
For outdoor activity:
1. Layer for warmth to wick away chilling moisture. On your torso, wear a synthetic material that draws sweat off the skin and keeps you warm. The next layer should insulate — fleece works nicely. The outer layer should be wind-resistant and waterproof, but breathable. Leggings that provide a light wicking layer and fit easily under wind-resistant, insulating outer pants are toasty. And a head cover that protects ears, neck, and cheeks does wonders for your stamina, as do double-layered foot cozies — a water-resistant shell over a standard running/walking shoe. If you're warm, it's more likely you'll do it again tomorrow.
Now you'll be able to enjoy striding out for your 10,000 steps a day!
© 2013 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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