During the warm summer months, nothing is as enjoyable as outdoor workouts like a walk or run in the sunshine, taking a dip in the local pool or the ocean, or rolling out your yoga mat in your favorite local park. But when autumn breezes turn into winter blasts (Exhibit A: the last few days) and temperatures drop, we have to get creative and intentional about indoor workouts to get us through the cold months. Depending on where you live, you may still be able to work out outdoors, but for those of us who have no choice but to stick to indoor workouts, here are some ideas.
Turn to HIIT workouts
If you don’t want to commit to a gym membership, or you simply prefer working out at home as opposed to at a gym, then you can always use your own home as a private fitness studio. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) revs up your heart rate until it’s almost at its maximum, then gives you a brief break before repeating the routine again. It helps you get more workout done in less time by switching between moderate and high intensity exercises, mostly using your own body weight. You can find all sorts of HIIT workouts online, and you don’t need a lot of time or space to do them. You could do HIIT workouts a few times a week with sessions of 15 to 30 minutes. It’s the perfect type of exercise when you are short on time but still want to see results.
Hit up the gym
For those of us who do live near a gym and prefer that atmosphere, it might be wise to get a gym membership for this part of the year. In the gym, the temperature is always right, you can replace running outside with running on a treadmill or tackling the elliptical machine or the Stairmaster, take a yoga class, or work on your strength training. There are tons of exercise possibilities in the gym, and you’re free to constantly switch up your workout to avoid getting bored. It’s also a great energy booster to be among fellow exercise fans and to be encouraged seeing their persistence.
Visit the local indoor pool
If there’s an indoor pool near where you live, you may want to pay it some visits in the colder months to come. Swimming is easy on the joints while giving your muscles a great workout and revving up your heart rate. So, if your knees are sore from hitting the pavement running one too many times, swimming can provide an equally challenging workout that will leave you in good shape. You’ll be fit as a fiddle when spring rolls around again!
Use YouTube workouts to your advantage
One of the most positive aspects of YouTube is the availability of free workouts. You can find pretty much any workout on YouTube, from yoga to Pilates, isometric exercises to dance routines. Subscribe to those that pique your interest and commit to doing the exercises regularly. You exercise from the comfort of your home, on your time, and on your schedule. What’s not to love?
The weather doesn’t have to undermine your fitness habits. Choose an indoor workout option and stick to it. I’ve had great success with my indoor workouts by using a mini-trampoline or rebounder, as well as trying out several yoga DVDs. It’s a small adjustment to accommodate the colder weather, but it pays high dividends.
By the way… I’d love to have you join me at my Facebook group, “Fab and Fit, Healthy and Happy Woman,” where we’ve been focusing on getting our exercise on in the new year. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1619983364976199/.
What is your favorite at-home workout routine? Which of the ones in this post are you most interested in trying out?
I first found Leslie Sansone videos on youtube for indoor walking. Now I own several of her DVDs. My trick to enjoying them over and over is to listen to my own music while I watch her routine. I’d love to take advantage of the pool at my local gym it’s very nice but a swim workout is so much more time consumeing. But a little goes a long way as for as muscles used.
Kenya G. Johnson recently posted…Amazon Finds That I Love❣
I like the idea of using your own music to keep you going with the Sansone videos, Kenya. And with the pool, there are hair issues for some of us… but it’s a great workout if you can fit it in from time to time.
LOVE these ideas, Alison. Will be sharing on my page! 🙂 (I need to get to our pool- not to watch a meet but to SWIM.)
I’m looking forward to hearing great swimming stories, Chris!
I was recently turned onto home video barre workouts. I think it’s important! I like to work out outdoors, of course, but even my daily walks/jobs are stopped by the dangerous icy pathways outside.
I know it’s way colder up by you than it is here in Maryland, so I can see why you’d love the video barre workouts. They really sound like fun, although it does seem like they give the body a good toning. Something new to look into in 2018!
Alison Hector recently posted…Indoor Workouts for Colder Weather
Our kids are into yoga and running around doing basic exercise this time of the year. I’m happy that they are with me doing indoors workouts. Great to stumble upon here.
You’re welcome!