How do you exercise in winter?

[NoveltySlippers]

Hi all

I've never posted under this topic before. I haven't exercised in about two years either. Things need to change!

I was just wondering - how do people keep fit in winter?

I live near a park but I'd be too scared to run in it after dark (large urban park in insalubrious area.)

I leave the house around 8am for work, so wondering, should I go in the morning? Will it still be dark then after the clocks change? And how the heck do you find the motivation in the morning?

Should I stick to fitness DVDs instead, and are there any that people have actually finished / used? (I never seem to get past the first disc) (Or session!)

am hopeless

[NoveltySlippers]

(Am normally too bleary eyed to notice how light it is in the morning)

[amy83firsttimer]

Swimming is the same all year round. Just remember to not be stingy with the hairdryer afterwards or you'll freeze your ears off.

[ThursdayOfTheLivingDead]

As a sahm who's partner works at home I'm lucky that I can go for a run when DS naps.

In your shoes I would do indoor exercise either before or after work- and maybe run or cycle outside on your day off?
I like home work outs but lots of people find the monetary factor if the gym v motivating

[NoveltySlippers]

Hmmm I haven't swum in years - I was never very good but I suppose a few slow laps is still exercise! And you're right about it being an excellent all-weather option!

[NoveltySlippers]

Thursday any good recommendations for indoor exercise? We have horrible laminate flooring in living room and wonder if it can take much bouncing up and down. Though a yoga one might be less impact...

[vindscreenviper]

Do you have a bike op?
Putting it onto a turbo trainer will let you cycle through the winter, no bouncing on the laminate floors either.

[digger123]

The trick with swimming in winter is to go at night, shower after, get into jim jams covered by a long coat, drive home...and you're ready for bed

Otherwise....just hibernate

[amy83firsttimer]

If you're not very good it's even more knackering so you'll burn more calories. My DH gets very tired quickly swimming as he's not very efficient at it. I on the other hand could keep going up and down til the cows come home. It's a useful skill too whereas you'll never need to zumba to get somewhere or rescue someone!

[digger123]

sorry....being flippant....how about a fit ball? no bouncing involved, and exercise regime including planks? Very good for all round toning

[NoveltySlippers]

Ooh, what's a turbo trainer?

Digger swimming at night sounds quite appealing actually...V cosy! Might help with sleep too.

[NoveltySlippers]

amy love the idea of someone rescuing someone with Zumba!

Yes, I would definitely fall in the 'inefficient' category for swimming ! So maybe that's an idea! Will need to investigate where nearest one is. (Speaks volumes that I don't even know.)

[Chopstheduck]

I love the idea of changing into PJS at the pool! Not sure I could get away with them cycling home though!

I love running in winter - hate getting all hot in summer. I have a head torch and you could carry a panic alarm?

I switch from road to mostly mountain bike riding, but that would have to be a more weekend thing, unless you got very powerful lights.

I think with fitness dvds it is hard to keep the motivation going. There are plenty of gym classes that run in the evenings though. Ever tried Les mills?

[NoveltySlippers]

digger yes a fit ball sounds good for toning (though never tried one). Think I need some aerobic exercise first to lose some pounds though. Have lots of handles of the love variety.

[UmmAbdillah]

Ooh just come across this thread and would be interested to hear the DVD recommendations too please... Like OP, not exercised in god knows when a while. I know someone who enjoyed doing the crazy looking Insanity workout so may get the DVDs off her to try

[digger123]

turbo trainer - thingy you attach your bike to so it doesn't go anywhere!

Re swimming - I joined a gym on a 3 month membership just intending to swim - ended up years later not swimming but doing the classes. Google gyms or public pools which probably do exercise classes too

[NoveltySlippers]

Les Mills? No, will google.

Am glad to hear I'm not the only one who's hopeless with DVDs! (Thought it was just me.)

[NoveltySlippers]

Thanks digger - will do!

[ArgyMargy]

Gym membership. Or if you can't afford that, extreme housework and lots of sex.

[digger123]

Yay Chopstheduck Les Mills - body attack rules
Perhaps Zumba to start with for the fun factor with a little LBT (legs bums & tums) thrown in?

[digger123]

I couldn't do the DVD thing on my own - have to have others to laugh at as well as myself

[NoveltySlippers]

at extreme housework.

[harrowgreen]

Yoga is no good at all for weight loss. It burns very few calories compared to 'proper' aerobic exercise.

You can hire exercise equipment if your budget stretches to it: get a cross-trainer (much easier and less impact than a treadmill) and do half an hour every morning.

Otherwise get some fitness videos. Read the reviews to see what's involved in terms of fitness (Amazon has loads). I (when I'm not heavily pregnant anyway) LOVE Bob Harper. Crazy crazy guy but gets amazing results: I have never looked as good in my life as I did 8m after my second baby when doing his videos 5x a week. His videos are generally very little jumping (maybe one or two exercises out of the whole hour) and you can do them without weights and then increase the weights (dumbbells) as you get better. Word of warning though that his 'beginners' workout is no easier than the others.

[digger123]

and that's why I joined the gym because my stbx wouldn't have sex

[NoveltySlippers]

Actually, in all seriousness that's not a bad idea (extreme housework).

There's certainly room for improvement on the housework front (gosh, I really am just LAZY aren't I?), so looking at a very efficient killing of two birds with one stone here!

[NoveltySlippers]

Hmm Bob Harper sounds promising! I think there may even be some very girly looking pink weights that I inherited nestling at the bottom of a cupboard somewhere. (I will need the girly pink ones.)