1. Indoors



If you would like to stay indoors, there are many ways to burn those calories and strengthen your muscles. Check out your local fitness center and see what equipment and services they offer. The gym might be a nice alternative if you don't want to venture outside for a run.

2. Outdoors

If you do not want to spend the extra money on a gym pass and still want to stay active, you can run outside in the cold weather.

- Extra layers will help retain heat and you can always peel off layers

- Make sure your pants are longer and you don't have skin exposed

- Wear mittens, your fingers will thank you

- A neck warmer may help

- A hat, you can lose a lot of heat through your head

- Bring tissues because your nose will run right along with you

- Wear sun block because the sun can still damage your skin in the winter just as much as in the summer

- Do a quick warm-up before you start running so your muscles are warm and loose

- Breath through your nose because it will filter and warm the air

- Watch for ice on the road. Keep all these points in mind and you will have a smooth run through all of winter. You don't want to break your arm from an icy road or get frost bite on your nose and ears. Check in with the weather reports before each run and be prepared for cold weather each and every time. The temperature might drop throughout your run and you don't want to be stuck 2 miles away from your home freezing because you did not wear enough layers.

3. Overcoming the Winter Blues

For many, the winter months can be a depressing time because of the coldness and the days seems shorter with less sunshine. With those feelings of being depressed, sometimes exercising is the last thing you want to do. Exercising will help you feel more energized. Getting up and being active will make you feel like you accomplished something that day and feeling fit will only make yourself feel better.

A workout buddy might do the trick to help motivate you to go out and run or hit the gym. While exercising, try listening to upbeat music that keeps your mood positive and your pace faster. Another way to help motivate yourself to workout is have a "to do" list and have exercising listed on it. The list will be a constant reminder that you have to workout for the day. If you are not a list person, but use a planner, schedule a part of your day in it for exercising. There are ways to overcome the challenges of winter. The cold no longer has to be an excuse for not staying fit.