Short winter days and hectic holiday schedules can make it especially hard for busy moms to get to the gym for workouts. This is the time when you start packing extra pounds in all the wrong places.
So, if you are a mom looking to keep fit during the freezing winters, I suggest you have a look at these tips for moms to workout at home during winter…
You never know, you may just be able to keep your curves this year!
Bust A Move
Nobody said workouts have to be all serious and strenuous. Dancing is a fun way of keeping your heart racing, burn extra pounds and relieve stress all at once. Simply get a DVD of your favorite dance routine be it vigorous hip-hop or even calming ballet and watch your stress levels lower and your health and fitness maintained.
If you want to pump up the power of dancing, add weights to your dance routine to give you some extra resistance. Just be sure to go for more than 30 minutes if you really want to reap the benefits.
Swimming
I know, I know, when you’re cold, your first instinct might not be to jump in a pool. But trust me, swimming is one of the best ways to keep an overall healthy and fit body. If you have an indoor pool, a simple 45 minutes swim three times a week is a good way to combine both cardio and resistance training in one workout.
Studies have shown that swimming ranks high up in exercises that burn fat and help you stay fit as compared to running and cycling. It is further seen that athlete swimmers have longer, happier lives than average individuals. So, get into gear this winter and hit the water with a few laps, your well-toned body will thank you later in the summer.
Strength Training
Resistance training is one of the best ways to lose weight while gaining muscle. The best part is that a gym is not mandatory for your workouts as you can buy our own body weight to perform the exercises.
Consider buying your own weights so you can workout in the comfort of your home. Do lower body exercises such as lunges, squats, and deadlifts for a well-toned behind and legs. Upper body exercises can also help reduce and tone your arms and abs.
All in all, resistance strength training should be your main go-to workout especially for those chilly winters that prevent you from going to the gym. You will not only keep your weight in check but also gain overall body strength.
Yoga
This list would be incomplete without including yoga. The beauty of this divine workout is that it not only works your body but also your mind. Yoga is known for its stress reducing properties that give you a calm aura and handle anxiety and depression among other things.
You are probably wondering how you will be able to pull this off without an instructor. Well, thanks to all the hype that yoga is receiving by yogis and newbies alike, you can easily access well-detailed videos from a variety of platforms such as yoga websites, YouTube, mobile phone apps and even yoga DVDs.
In fact, most of these videos are free so you have nothing to worry about financially. Just grab your yoga mat and engage in various yoga styles to keep fit.
Cardio Workouts
Good, old school cardio is another way to keep your body in shape during the winter. You have probably heard this so many times but I will repeat it again for emphasis’ sake; cardio is great for keeping your heart strong and healthy so you most definitely don’t want to skip on it.
Needless to say, a lot of exercises fall into this bracket so you will have a wide variety of workouts to choose from. You can skip rope, hop on your exercise bike or go for some star jumps when it comes to indoor cardio workouts. Just be sure to keep it challenging and over 30 minutes to make it worthwhile.
Stair Climbing
If you lack all the equipment used in the previous workouts, then this is probably for you. Stair climbing may seem as an easy day to day task but try it at high speed or by taking two steps at a time and you have yourself a challenge.
As simplistic as this exercise might seem, it does wonders raising your heart rate while working your glute muscles every step of the way. The best part is that you require no equipment to make it happen.
So, the next time you are stuck indoors and are craving some good workout, try stair climbing to keep your heart pumping and your glutes on point. Just be careful not to fall!
So Get Moving!
Don’t let the cold winter season should not be your excuse to stay idle or backslide on your workout routine. There is a ton of ways to keep fit during winter such that most of them are quite easy and free.
One thing you should be keen on when working out at home is the posture you use to perform the workouts so as to prevent injuries. Also, keep in mind that, just because you are not at the gym doesn’t mean you should not go hard. Be sure to challenge yourself by going beyond your limits especially in terms of workout intensity and duration.
This way, you will encourage endurance as well as growth. Take advantage of free workout material on the internet as well as sold workout DVDs. That said, I believe it’s safe to say that, you have every weapon in your arsenal to keep you fit during the winter; just take your pick.
Pin it for Later
Written by Nancy Moore.
Nancy is the founder and creator of Fitnessgrams. She created Fitnessgrams to be a haven for people looking to get fit, boost their health, lose weight, or improve their well-being. Here you will find experiences, workouts, information from the experts, healthy living tips, and tools to find well-being and balance.
The post How Busy Moms Can Keep Fit During the Winter appeared first on 5 Minutes for Mom.