Winter Workout

Once again, the tank tops of spring have dwindled to the Speedos of summer, and now fall's form-fitting V-necks are giving way to long coats. For many, this is the beginning of the end of outdoor training --not only because of the weather, but also because of the ease with which diminishing fitness and growing waistlines can be hidden beneath our winter layers. But we don't have to give up on outdoor training, and we don't have to let our six packs turn into kegs. After all, no one likes being stuck in his living room, or a gym, or an office for a whole season; and it's important to keep variation in your workout plan, too. So don't be afraid of the winter. By following these guidelines you can safely and effectively continue to enjoy your outdoor exercise -- and keep your physique ready and chiseled for next spring -- despite winter's bite.

One Winter Workout to Keep You Cut
We all can still see it clearly in our minds eye: Sylvester Stallone galloping through the Siberian snow, the classic Mercedes full of KGB men following him; the barn, where he does sit-ups from the hayloft and squats with an ox yoke. Clearly, none of us is going to be performing such a workout as that this winter, but the concept doesn't have to be so foreign. There are endless everyday options to burn extra calories and squeeze extra reps outside during the winter. Here are just a few to build your outdoor winter workout on.

GIVE YOURSELF A "TREE": So the leaves are gone and the trees are bare. This adds up to a benefit for you. Find a good limb and perform chin-ups. Wide-grip pull-ups will draw the focus to your outer lats. Close-grip ones will hit the inner-lats and help you grow thick. Turn your hands around (palms toward you) and use a medium grip to tie the lower traps into your middle-back and lats for that all-too-sexy "diamond" cut.

SHOVEL SNOW: Various metabolic studies have shown that shoveling snow for an hour can burn anywhere between 300 and 500 calories. That's a cardio workout in and of itself. But, depending on the amount and type of snow -- folks in Michigan talk about their wet snow versus folks in Maine who know about hard snow -- shoveling snow can also be a hell of a good upper-body workout. For cardio, make sure you have enough snow to shovel to last you at least 45-minutes (help your neighbors out if you need more). If you live where the snow if hard and heavy, shovel for variety in your upper body workout, just be sure to give your arms and back in particular a full days rest before training them again in the gym.

SKI THE 'HOOD: For lower-body work, cross-country skiing is perhaps the most efficient outdoor winter exercise available. Don't laugh. I live in Manhattan, and early some mornings when the snow is undisturbed and there aren't too many people traipsing the streets of Chelsea to laugh at me, I strap on (get your mind out of the gutter) my cross-country skis and make a few laps around the gayborhood. XC, and those in the know call it, burns more calories per hour than any other sport (up to 1200 an hour) and is an ideal cross-training winter replacement for avid runners or bikers? Check out RealJock's very own article, "Ode to Cross Country Skiing: Cold Temps, Hot Workouts," by Clark Harding.

EN-GAY-GE IN TACKLE FOOTBALL: We all know wrestling has a certain special place in gay athletic lore, but if you thought football was a straight game, come to Gym Bar next time you're in New York. Football is not a fall-only sport, and it's an excellent way not only to improve your physical condition, but also to give you an excuse to wrap your arms around a hot guy and bring him down. Since you are playing in the snow, you'll get a hell of a leg workout (like running on sand). Plus, fresh snow will provide cushioning amid the tackles, and a nice, soft surface for any post-game recreation.

SIDEBAR:
ONE TIP FOR WINTER WORKOUT SAFETY: Don't strip when you get inside. While you may be tempted (especially if you take my advice on the tackle football above) to immediately remove your layers when returning inside, don't! Give your body time to recondition itself to the changing temperature. Unless your clothes are sopping wet (in which case, get them off) post exercise hypothermia is possible when you adjust to higher temps too quickly.