Keeping fit in the winter is not easy for some people who prefer to stay inside where it’s warm rather than be outside in 32 degree temperatures.
Physical education teacher Franklin Tiburcio said there are many excuses we can all make to take a break from being physically active in the winter time, but keeping a healthy lifestyle all year around it’s more important.
“In addition, many studies have shown that working out in cold weather forces your body to work twice as hard since it’s trying to keep your body warm during training. This helps the cardiovascular endurance system and as shown to burn more calories,” Tiburcio said. “Personally, I’m not an outdoor cold weather person while training or exercising, but I do keep my self active indoors during the cold months.”
One way to keep the body moving is to bring popular sports such as soccer inside. Stefan Dib, a fifth-grade student. plays soccer year round.
“If it’s not snowing, I can go to the field and play with my friends,” Dib said. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, Dib plans to keep kicking it indoors and work on these skills: “Dribbling and passing because I have a wall I could hit it off and then space to dribble.”
Basketball, another common outside sport, can also be brought to inside courts. Hockey and swimming are options for both indoors and outdoors. If cold isn’t an issue, there’s skiing, snowboarding and tubing at Greek Peak or Campgaw in New Jersey or Windham Mountain in New York.
Health and Wellness teacher, Colleen Maltzan, says staying physically active during the colder months is so important not only our physical health, but our mental health as well.
“Personally, in addition to staying active indoors, I bundle myself up with a hat, scarf, and gloves to go for outdoor runs,” Maltzan said. “I also do the same with my children to go for walks or play on the playground. They are so much happier and healthier when they spend time outdoors, even when it’s cold.”
Health experts agree that water is very important for the human body year round, but during winter some people don’t drink as much water as they should. For those looking to keep hydrated, coconut water is an option. In fact, dietitian Mariana Braga recommends water flavored with slices of fruit and herbal tea to keep bodies hydrated. Eating healthy in the winter can be done with oats, whole grain breads and soups. Some people find fruits warmed with condiments like cinnamon and cocoa powder a fun way to eat healthy.
