Winter is here! We have a saying in our run club: There is no such thing as cold weather, just the wrong clothes! For most of the Winter, that is true. These last few days when windchills have been between -20 and -40, it is better to come up with alternatives inside for exercise. Whether you have exercise equipment or not, there are other activities that you can do just by doing body weight exercises. In general, if you are going to be outside, you need to have the right gear on. Especially something that helps block the wind.
Our dog Dakota always wants to go out no matter what the temp is. We can’t take her out when it is this cold either, but when we can at least be above zero, we are out there. You need to wear a thick coat that the wind can’t penetrate, and a face covering are both a must. Sarah’s hands tend to be very sensitive to the cold, so she has hand warmers put in mittens as well.
You need to have a good base layer on, and something that can breath when you are sweating, but that can also block the wind. I love my goretex equipment. In the Winter, I won’t run outside without it. Huge benefit, and well worth the investment. When it is too cold outside, especially with the windchill, you resort to indoor activities.
Of course, Dakota has to help when I am riding the bike also. This is where it can be a good investment for at home, or have a membership to the Wellness Center, or other gym, and have use of multiple pieces of other exercise equipment.
Sarah and I will be out in the “Reiflex Center” quite a bit (a corner of my garage that is heated) and do body weight exercises. Push-ups you can do anywhere, anytime. My friend Tom will continue to go up and down the stairs in his house for 30 minutes or more for one of his workouts.
We will do planks, kettle bell activities. lunges, squats, box steps, jumprope, and on and on. The list is ongoing as to what you can do. But, if you do venture outside, there are always things that still can be very enjoyable to look at, even when it is cold outside.
Just remember to be creative, and do something else that you can enjoy as well. A workout is a workout. We can all stand to have some variety. But you can’t wait for the weather to always be perfect. We live in South Dakota afterall!!
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The biggest thing is you have to remember to keep moving to help stay warm!
No more excuses. Either get outside and get going, or be creative and do something inside if the windchills are as bad as they have been this week. Bottom line, it does not mean you can’t do anything. Think outside the box. You don’t need to have all kinds of special equipment to be active doing something. We have lots of Winter here! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: #1015
