There is no doubt the weather is shifting here in the Midwest, but it has been quite mild so far. In fact, it has been so mild, that a week ago I was in a tank top for two days. The tank quickly changed to a coat and earmuffs, but in the next breath it was warm again. The great thing is my walking schedule has not yet been affected, but living in the Midwest I must be realistic about what is heading my way, and here is how I am adapting my routine for walking in the winter.
Moving my body is important to me and walking has been a big part of my movement. Of course, getting out and about is much easier three seasons out of the year. While I am not big on being out in the cold, I did figure out my threshold and what I need for getting in a cold weather walk. Layer up friends. There is some pretty nice gear out there like fleece lined leggings and jackets with some kind of heater inside, but that is not what I use at the moment. It does not have to be fancy at all. My maximum has been 3 layers along with gloves and something for my head. See what your body can tolerate and go from there. Once you get moving, you will warm up a bit and may even find you do not require as many layers as you thought.
With that said, be honest with yourself and set realistic goals. At this point in my life, I do not like the cold, unless it is for sleeping. So, I already know once we are deep in the trenches of winter or below a certain temperature, I am not going outside. I have decided to consider other options that might work for me. For example, if I cannot get outside or tolerate being outdoors for two miles, then why not do one mile instead? There is nothing like being outside for a walk, but walking videos are a great way to get the body moving and hit that step goal in the winter. A combination of both is also a good way to mix things up when you cannot be outside the entire time.
When you cannot get outside at all, there are so many other ways to move your body and focus on caring for yourself in the winter months. Try a dance workout, step aerobics (I love this one) or kickboxing. Of course, we cannot forget our strength training ladies. Try different styles and find what you enjoy. I spent a lot of time doing various kinds of workouts which helped break up the monotony for me, but also exposed me to new things that helped me find several types of workouts I enjoy and will still do to this day if I can.
Overall, it is about movement and maintaining consistency even as the weather is shifting. It can be challenging because of the shorter and gloomier days, but with a little focus and intention, we can still have a successful and movement filled winter and get back outside at the first sign of spring. How do you stay active in the winter?
Thank you for sharing your heart and your words! You always have great tips and advice. It’s also nice to mix it up and go walk in our local mall. There isn’t much going on there, besides walking, but it is warm!