With winter in full force and the rain coming down in sheets, sometimes it's a little difficult to stay active. The walk is only about three and a half months away, so staying active is a good way to have safe and healthy walk experience. Don't worry; it doesn't have to be boring! There are tons of ways to keep moving in the warmth of your own living room.
(The following is adapted from "Top 10 Indoor Exercise Ideas for Winter" by Christopher Carter, Yahoo! Contributor Network)
1. Jumping Jacks are a nice way to warm up for a good workout. Break your jumping jacks down into sets of 10-20.
2. Start a basic home workout routine consisting of exercises like leg squats, push-ups, crunches, and leg raises. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions. You can add additional exercises, reps or sets, as your exercise tolerance increases. You can even hold everyday cans of soup from the pantry while you do these to add resistance!
3. Exercise DVDs like Billy Blank's Tae Bo series can help give your body a total workout. The Tae Bo workout combines strength training, cardio, and kickboxing. You can purchase Tae Bo DVDs at Sports Authority or on websites like Amazon.com.
4. Give Pilates a try. You can buy a number of different pilates workout DVDs from Amazon.com.
5. Jogging in place is an easy thing to do throughout the day. Try jogging to the mailbox, or during the commercials of your favorite TV show!
6. Dance to the music! Dancing is great cardio exercise, and a great way to burn calories. Put your favorite tunes on, and dance the night (or day!) away. Click here for a good iTunes music list!
7. Play a Game. Do you have Nintendo Wii? Try WiiFit or WiiFit Plus. Do you have a Microsoft 360 Kinect? Try YourShape: Fitness Evolved, or even have fun with the Kinect Adventures game that was bundled with the system. You can even play a friendly game of Twister or tag with family and friends.
8. Walk your home stairs. If you have stairs in your home, walk them often. If you don't have stairs in your home, you can stay active by walking throughout your house. It may seem silly, but the more your body stays in motion, the easier it is to burn calories.
9. Clean up. Cleaning up your home involves a good deal of physical labor (sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc). If you want to add more "burn" to your cleaning, increase the speed of your movements.
10. Yoga is a great way to get in shape physically and spiritually. If you aren't familiar with Yoga, you may purchase books and DVD's from websites like Amazon.com.
As always, remember to stay hydrated! Put on a comfortable pair of shoes. Make sure the area you're working out in is clear of objects and any obstructions. Take a break if you feel tired or dizzy.
Stay safe, stay active, and have a great weekend!
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