Have an Active Winter: Ideas That Blast Calories and Keep You Moving

TEAM TGA

For many of us, winter invites us to embrace the warmth of the indoors and cozy up by the fireplace. It's a season when the weather changes and our focus often shifts away from regular workouts.

However, we want to encourage you to stay active throughout the winter and fully savor the season while maintaining your fitness. You don't have to spend hours in the gym lifting weights or pounding the pavement for miles to achieve your fitness goals. Winter provides a unique opportunity to make fitness enjoyable and explore new activities. This is the year to embark on an exciting fitness adventure! Here are some ideas on how to do just that.

Build a Snowman

Here’s a happy surprise: engaging in enjoyable outdoor activities during cold weather burns more calories than in milder conditions. According to experts, even building a snowman counts as great outside exercise. When your large muscle groups are moving, the body has to work harder to generate heat in the cold. Exercising outside, in any form, can be more effective in the winter. So yes, when you build a snowman, you DO earn that hot chocolate.

Even not-so-fun activities count. It’s estimated that for a 175-pound person, shoveling snow for an hour burns 398 calories! Grab a shovel, clear the driveway, then get the family together for an epic snowball fight. Be aware that the repetitive bending, twisting, pushing, and lifting of shoveling (or even bending down to make snowballs) can be hard on your back. Make sure to use the “squatting technique” - don’t bend at the waist to lift the shovel; instead, bend and straighten your knees while keeping your back straight. This will keep the work in the legs, not the back. Try the Copper Fit Advanced Back Pro to help support the back and keep your form correct. The double-belt closure allows for adjustable customized compression and support. The compression belt has four built-in stabilizing rods designed to reduce stress and strain on the lumbar region. It fits easily under clothing, and the fabric is lightweight. And importantly, it allows for a full range of motion while helping support lower back muscles.

Try Cross Country Skiing

Skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding are at the top of the list of winter activities that are also incredible workouts. They are family-friendly, too!

However, only about a quarter of skiers ski cross-country. Consider trying it this winter. Here are our top three reasons to give it a go:

Cross-country skiing is an incredibly heart-healthy exercise. It’s often called "the best cardiovascular exercise known” in exercise physiology. It is a true full-body workout, and the core takes on much of the work, generating much of the power to propel forward.
It’s less dangerous than skiing. Since the risk of injury is much lower, it’s easy to do, and you decide how strenuous you want it to be; you can pick it up at any age! Herman Smith Johannsen, aka “Jackrabbit Johannsen,” known to have popularized cross-country skiing in Canada and the US, skied until he was 102 years old!

It’s incredibly peaceful; you don’t have to wait in lift lines, and you don’t have to wear uncomfortable downhill ski boots! Don’t forget to slip on a pair of Copper Fit Energy Compression Socks to ensure your legs stay stronger and warmer longer. The targeted compression band gently hugs the arch and ankle to help reduce foot and leg fatigue. The blend of moisture-wicking fibers provides a luxuriously cushioned footbed to help with impact absorption.

Get in the Pool (The Indoor Pool)

You don’t have to be a lifelong swimmer to leap into swimming. The benefits are tremendous, and access to an indoor pool makes it a great winter sport. Because it is a low-impact activity, it can be an incredible way to stay fit, whatever the season. Whether you are kicking around with a kickboard or doing serious freestyle laps, it’s a calorie torcher! As a full-body workout, swimming tones the body, improves flexibility, and can also help with balance and posture.

Swimming keeps the stress off your body - and out of your mind. A few laps back and forth in a pool can charge endorphins in the brain, reducing cortisol, the stress hormone. It’s an excellent activity for young and old looking for a way to deal with stress in the winter when they are all “cooped up.” The ability to be alone with your thoughts, coupled with the endorphin rush, is a valuable tool for battling anxiety.

Since swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise, it allows people who struggle with joint pain, arthritis, injury, and disabilities to exercise without pain. Hydrotherapy is one way that many help manage chronic pain.

So, where do you swim? Many towns have indoor pools and recreation centers. The YMCA is in 10,000 communities across the country. Find one near you here. They are known for having heated indoor pools - and swimming lessons too.

Winter Hiking

Just because it’s cold or possibly snowy outside doesn’t mean you can’t hike. The key is to be prepared. The National Park Service has a list of winter hiking essentials listed here. And be sure not to let pain slow you down. Bring along Copper Fit’s Freedom Knee Sleeve, which provides mild to moderate compression for all-day comfort. Compression technology helps stabilize the knee joint, decrease swelling, and help with muscle pain.

Here are some more tips: winter hiking takes longer, so plan on smaller treks this time of year and always be on top of trail conditions. Trail conditions will determine what kind of footwear you need. Most importantly, check the weather and be ready to cancel, change plans, or turn back early. A popular mantra is “When in doubt, don’t go out!”. Very importantly, you can’t rely on your cell phone if you don’t have service. GPS or a map and compass are your best options. Get an early start and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature!

This winter, just keep moving. Don’t let the cold keep you from staying fit. The options are endless. Get inspired, try something new, and don’t forget that Copper Fit support products have your back!