Friday, February 8, 2013

Fit Friday: At Home Workouts!

As I've mentioned before, I like having some variety in my workouts. Depending on the time of year, I run outside, swim, bike, practice yoga, and workout at the gym. In the winter, though, some of those exercises don't appeal to me. I admire the person riding their bike when it's snot freezing weather outside, but that sounds like torture to me! So biking is out, and running outside is limited. I did run with a couple girl friends yesterday, and we did three miles without slipping on ice or freezing to death. Yay! I also have trouble convincing myself to jump into a chilly (indoor) pool when the weather gets too cold. So, where does that leave me?


My trusty gym is always there for me, like a true friend, but sometimes I just need a little space. Really, the gym isn't too close to my house or convenient on the way to/from work, so that keeps me from going more than 2-3 days a week. I do think that's still a good amount of time to spend there, but I like to be more active than than, especially when the winter weather has me feeling a bit stir crazy. My solution?  Workout at home!


You really don't need much equipment to workout at home. Some hand weights and an exercise ball are nice, but not necessary. We recently bought a resistance band, too, which is great for travel. There are some great videos to rent or buy, if you like having verbal instruction, and there are TONS of exercise routines available online. The way I see it, even just doing some simple yoga poses while you're watching TV is better than laying on the couch and not moving. Soon enough it will be spring and we'll be able to go outside and play after dinner, but for now these at home workouts will get me through the winter months. Any other ideas how to stay active this time of year? (I dream of moving to California every winter, but since that's not an option at this point I'm open to other suggestions!)  Any favorite at home workout routines to share?


Follow me on pinterest for some of my exercise ideas!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Stay Warm, Friends!

I hate to talk about the weather, but sometimes you just have to. This has been a wacky winter here in Chicago. It started out unseasonably warm, with a record breaking "snow drought". Good old global warming, huh? The environment has decided to fight back, though, and the last couple weeks Mother Nature has been flexing her muscles. I have mixed feelings about snow, too, because I really do want to hate it. But I can't resist loving a good bit of snowfall, and the way it makes the city feel so quiet and calm. The messy slush after the snow is a whole different story, but tonight the snow is coming down (again), and I am just going to snuggle up and enjoy it.



Last weekend was snowy, too, and my friend Megan and I ended up switching our outdoor running date into a lunch date. Wimpy, I know, but I don't really want to risk slipping on ice and finishing this running season before it starts! The snow was lovely, though, so I toted my camera with me on my way to meet up. Again, I'm pushing that New Year's resolution to use the camera more. I need to push to take more pictures of people, to continue getting out of my comfort zone, but at least taking the camera out of the house is a good place to start!











Sounds like it's getting snowy across the country, so I hope you're staying warm tonight!