Winter fitness

Get outside to explore Michigan’s winter wonderland

The mercury may be dipping, but you can still enjoy the great outdoors.

Whether it’s running in the snow, ice skating with friends or sledding with your kids, outdoor winter workouts can help transform your mind, body and mood. They’re also great for building stamina, strengthening muscles and burning unwanted fat.

“It’s vitally important to stay active and keep moving all year long, not only for our physical health, but for our mental health also,” said MESSA Health Promotion Consultant Rhonda Jones. “In the winter, movement is important to get us past the seasonal barriers of darker days and colder temperatures. For those of us trying to lose or manage our weight, exercising in lower temperatures requires more energy to warm our body; thus, we use more calories exercising in colder weather.”

So, bundle up, embrace Jack Frost and challenge your body.

Try something new like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or luge sledding. Yes, luge sledding! Here are suggestions to help you stay fit that may elicit laughter along the way.

Get in the right gear
Before you tackle the low temperatures, dress appropriately to avoid freezing off your derriere. First, wear breathable warm wool, polyester or nylon socks. Next, choose a sweat-wicking base layer. For a middle layer, wear a cozy fleece. Top with a down ski jacket and snow pants for insulation. Remember, wear a warm hat, gloves and water-resistant insulated footwear to protect your extremities. For more information, consult with a sporting goods store near you.

Fat-tire biking
Don’t let a little snow stop you from a good bike ride. Fat-tire biking, or snow biking, works your legs twice as hard as you glide over snow-covered trails and take in the beautiful winter landscape. This endurance and strength-building exercise strengthens your core, glutes, quads, calves and hamstrings. For more information, visit mi.gov/dnr/things-to-do/winter/bike.

Ice skating
Looking to improve your balance, motor coordination, flexibility and muscle tone? Well, look no further than the ice rink. Ice skating is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints and will strengthen your hips, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves and core. You get a great cardio workout, too. The beauty of this exercise is that you can experience it in the brisk outdoors or inside. Michigan has hundreds of outdoor and indoor rinks to enjoy this activity with family and friends.

Downhill and cross-country skiing
Did you know that Michigan has the second-most ski areas in the country, with more than 40 resorts, over 250 lifts, 50 terrain parks, and nearly 1,000 runs? It’s the perfect state to scope the slopes on your skis or snowboard, maintain good cardio, and increase endurance. If downhill skiing isn’t your speed, slow things down with cross-country skiing. Michigan offers more than 3,000 miles of trails. Cross-country skiing gives you a full-body workout, and it’s easy on the joints. For more information on downhill skiing, visit michigan.org/ski-snowboarding. For more information on cross-country skiing, visit michigan.org/skiing/cross-country.

Luge, tubing and sledding
Sledding and tubing are exhilarating when you’re flying down the neighborhood hill on smooth and bumpy snow. The ride is good for mental wellness because it releases stress and evokes positive emotions. But the physical workout begins when you feel the burn in your legs as you trek uphill through the snow with sled in hand. If climbing hills isn’t your thing, try the thrilling luge sledding. Michigan is home to the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park, one of only four publicly accessible luge tracks in the country. Take advantage of these opportunities to race to the bottom. Learn more at msports.org.

Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a heavy cardio exercise that could burn about 600 calories an hour. This aerobic activity is suitable for all age groups. It’s a low-impact exercise that boosts your mood and confidence, strengthens your muscles and helps you lose weight. In addition, snowshoeing alleviates muscle soreness and fights off the winter blues as you take in the winter landscape. Michigan has thousands of trail miles available for snowshoeing. For more information, check your local or county parks. For state trails, visit michigan.org/snowshoeing.