Encouragement for Working Out in the Cold

It's freezing cold outside, it’s dark when you get home, and you're still recovering from those extra holiday calories you put away over the last couple weeks. That’s a pretty good excuse to sit inside by the fire, snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate, and watch the boob tube, right?

Wrong! While it's tempting to turn into a couch potato in winter (30 percent of people don’t exercise at all during the winter months), it's also a good time to take a deep breath, wrap up in warm clothes, summon your adventurous spirit, and get out into that crisp invigorating air. Exercise can help you shed those holiday pounds, while increasing your overall health and quality of life. And, keep in mind the winter bonus: you actually burn more calories exercising in winter because your body has to work hard to keep itself warm.

Best winter workout ever: hauling children back up the hill on a sled and then taking the sled back down!