Winter workouts
How to stay fit when the temperatures drop
Sticking to New Year’s resolutions during the winter can be difficult when cold temperatures and bad road conditions prevent traveling to the gym and lessen motivation.
Sweat— Students work out indoors to stay warm in the winter. Photo credit: Courtney Wheeler
Heather Gaunt, LaHaye Student Union fitness coordinator, gave advice about how someone can keep up with fitness goals despite the difficulties winter brings. Gaunt first suggested investing in home gym equipment and an exercise DVD library.
“A pair of dumbbells, kettlebells, jump ropes, yoga mats, TRX suspension bands, a medicine ball, a pull-up bar and resistance bands are just a few great pieces of equipment to achieve a well-rounded at-home workout,” Gaunt said.
If someone lives in a spacious place, stationary bikes or treadmills are good assets to have but are not necessary, according to Gaunt, who said the most important part to achieving a good at-home workout is the mind.
“It starts with the right mindset,” Gaunt said. “If you can get rid of distractions, crank up music, and really focus on what you are doing, there’s no reason why your home workout can’t be just as good, if not better, than your gym workout.”
Gaunt said her favorite way to get moving without a lot space is yoga because no equipment is needed except for a comfortable surface to practice on, such as a mat, towel, carpet or grass.
“Moving through (yoga) poses for 20 to 60 minutes will help increase blood circulation, muscle strength, balance, flexibility and coordination,” Gaunt said.
Another at-home workout Gaunt suggested is high intensity interval training (HIIT). According to Gaunt, this style of workout requires minimal equipment and can help someone achieve a good workout in a short amount of time.
“The benefits of HIIT include increases in aerobic and anaerobic fitness, decreases in fasting insulin and increases in insulin sensitivity, (and it) reduces abdominal (fat) and (fat just under the
skin),” Gaunt said.
Because of the intensity of HIIT workouts, Gaunt said to check with a doctor before starting this type of exercise.
If going outside is more appealing, Gaunt gave many options that work when there is snow outside. Before heading outdoors, Gaunt recommends wearing the correct clothing for outside including a good pair of gloves, a hat, a jacket, pants and snow boots.
“You can get outside and shovel snow, have a snowball fight, build a snowman, hike through the snow, (and) take turns with friends pulling them on a sled,” Gaunt said. “If you have cross-country skis, go on an adventure. The most important thing is to stay active and find joy in what you are doing.”
Gaunt said the primary reason people stick with their exercise routine is because they enjoy it. She recommends people try a few different ways to workout and stick with the one they enjoy most.
“Find friends to enjoy (exercising) with you,” Gaunt said. “It makes it even more fun when you can share the experience with close friends or family, and you are more likely to do it when you have that accountability with someone else.”
If more accountability is needed, Gaunt suggests using a personal trainer. The LaHaye Student Union offers multiple different packages and price ranges of personal training, which can be found at liberty.edu/campusrec/studentunion.
Fraser is a copy editor.