How to Exercise in Winter

Don't let all that snow keep you indoors and inactive. You can still burn those calories and maintain a healthy weight. It doesn't take much, and you an even have fun while doing it. Read this eHow to learn more.

Instructions

• 1

  Take up a martial art. You can burn up to 600 or more calories an hour, depending on the discipline, and learn a valuable art at the same time. It's great exercise, and winter is the perfect time to start.

• 2

  Do Pilates. It is a good, fluid work-out that helps you tone your body. You can even burn up to 200 calories or more depending on the level at which you practice.

• 3

  Shovel your driveway and sidewalk. Not only do you now have a means to escape your driveway in your car, you can burn up to 400 calories or more in 60 minutes.

• 4

  Lace up your boots and go skating. Your town may have a public rink, but you don't necessarily need it. Flood a portion of your lawn in winter and have fun. You get to have some exercise and burn up to 300 calories.

• 5

  Click on some cross country skis and head out. If you're lucky, you can take off, right from your back door. If not, head for the nearest ski resort or golf course, and have some fun. The best part is that you're staying active while burning 700 calories or more.

• 6

  Hit the slopes and burn more than 500 calories by going downhill skiing. Some local ski resorts offer bargain prices. Call ahead to learn more.

• 7

  Take the stairs, especially in winter. You burn 200 or more calories, as well as build up those muscles, which in turn burn more calories. You can't lose.

• 8

  Keep moving. Swing your legs while you're sitting, tap your feet, fidget, stretch, keep moving. Even this little but can burn calories-more than if you just sit like a lump.

• 9

  Dance! Even doing the flamenco can burn calories, up to 100 or more calories in fact. Pick up the pace and polka, and burn even more.

• 10

  Grab your sled and head down the hills with the kids. You'll have a great time and burn over 200 calories-more if you're the one tugging the sled back up the hill after you've reached the bottom. Winter exercise doesn't get any better than this.

• 11

  Bundle up and go ice fishing. You can burn some calories, up to 70 or more, but be careful not to off-set the calories burned with quantities of beer.

• 12

  Go swimming. Your town may have a public pool that's open year round. It's low impact exercise, and you'll be burning 500 calories or more.

• 13

  Walk in your mall. Often local malls allow people to walk inside the malls before the actual stores open. Call the mall office and inquire. Not only can you walk for miles, you don't have to do it in the snow.

• 14

  Drink 8 cups of water a day, and drink unsweetened tea (green and black) and coffee. The caffeine helps to burn calories, and the water keeps you healthy. You need to drink water when you exercise, even in the cool of winter.