Staying active during the cold months may not be the first thing on your mind. When the snow is falling and the days seem shorter, the couch calls us into hibernation.
Staying active and healthy is important through the colder months for many reasons. When we stay active we sleep better, we feel better, and our risk of illness decreases. These are important for everyone, but especially us moms. Accompany an active lifestyle with nutritious, whole foods this winter and your body and immune system will thank you.
Here are some ways you can stay active this winter:
- Workout at home.
There are fantastic workout programs available online. My favorite free workout program is POPSUGAR Fitness on youtube. My favorite program with a cost is Beachbody on Demand. It’s $99/year, but totally worth it. - Go outside with your kids.
Sledding with the kids is an opportunity for a great cardio workout. There are tons of family friendly winter sports to try too- snowboarding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are just a few examples.
- Shovel the driveway.
Take advantage of nap time and shovel the driveway after a snowfall. You’ll feel great after getting some fresh air and your spouse will appreciate it too. - Join the local gym.
This is a perfect Christmas gift idea! Ask for support in joining your local gym or athletic center. If you have a local athletic center with kids programming and a pool this is also a great gift idea for your family. - Mall walking.
It’s not just for seniors! Pack up the strollers and meet up with your mom friends for a morning of mall walking. Grab a coffee after and make it a play date at the mall play area.
What about the holiday sweets? Of course you should enjoy Grandma’s cookies and your favorite holiday dessert! The key is to enjoy those treats and then jump back on track to keep your gut and immune system working properly. Here are a few tips to stay on track during the holiday season:
- Incorporate these immune boosting foods into your diet: Broccoli, citrus fruits, Greek yogurt, spinach, sweet potatoes, and ginger.
- Treat holiday sweets as a treat! Don’t over do it. Enjoy your favorite treats in moderation and recognize when you’re satisfied. When the next day comes jump back on track and give the sugary foods a break.
- Load up on water. It’s recommended you double your weight and drink that number in fluid ounces of water daily!
- Enjoy a cold-pressed juice from your local juice shop. Cold-pressed juices have lots of benefits for our guts, skin, and overall health. Locally I recommend picking up some organic cold-pressed juice from Vibe Well in Fenton.
- Meal plan. It’s simple! Meal and menu planning makes healthy eating easy and convenient.
We hope this encourages you to stay active and healthy this winter! What will you be doing to stay active this winter?
