Winter Exercising: Adjust Your Fitness Plan for the Chilly Weather

For too many people, the return of winter weather means the end of a regular fitness routine. Particularly for those who exercise outside, the colder weather and shorter days often combine to sideline fitness efforts. The hectic holiday season doesn't exactly help the situation, but with a little advance planning - and some dedication - your winter can be just as healthy as the spring, summer and fall that follow it.

Beating the cold

For those who can't stand the cold or wet weather, exercising outside is often out of the question. But that's no reason to hang up your running or walking shoes. Talk a walk at the mall - and if you have trouble getting motivated to do that, join a walking club.

Runners won't want to slow down their strides to mall speeds, but if you keep getting sidelined by cold weather, trying joining a health club that has an indoor track. While you're there, check out the weight-training equipment or take a pilates class; cross-training is good for the body, and it can also challenge your mind to try something new.

Another option is to buy some new exercise equipment for your home. If biking is your passion, a stationary one can keep you fit - and if you put a television in front of it, you can enjoy your favorite show without guilt. The same goes for a treadmill - you can log a lot of miles while watching an hour of TV.

The most important thing to remember is that whatever exercise equipment you buy, it needs to suit your lifestyle, interests and be accessible in your home. Try out some equipment at a health club before you settle on which one you'd like to own.

If you can't beat it, join it…

Maintaining an outdoor fitness program is possible year-round, although it might not always be comfortable. But for the dedicated, all it takes is planning and preparation - and some plain old common sense.

Dress in layers for your outdoor workouts, with a thin layer of microfibers close to your skin to draw sweat away from your body. The second layer should provide insulation - fleece is a great material - and the third, outer layer is the shell, which should be as windproof and waterproof as possible.

Hands and feet are most vulnerable to cold, so choose wool or polypropylene socks and warm gloves. Cover your head - particularly the ears - because that's where a great deal of body heat escapes. During the day, don't forget sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind as well as ultraviolet rays.

Before you start

Of course, not everyone needs to work out in the cold; some medical conditions make it unsafe. Always talk to your doctor before launching a new exercise program - particularly if you're older or have been fairly sedentary.

Make sure you ease into the program, but set aside a minimum of 30 minutes a day for exercising. You'll find that scheduling the time, instead of "trying to work it in," will make it much easier to maintain your program.