Winter Gets In The Way

December 6, 2007 · 9 comments

Winter is getting in the way of my best laid exercise plans.

After running outdoors in Paris last week I came home planning to take some of my cardio off the treadmill and on to the pavement. The problem is, I live in Minnesota. It hadn’t snowed yet when I left for Europe so perhaps I was forgetting that I live in a snowy state. No matter, I was reminded of that right away taking the taxi home from the airport as we had to drive through a snowstorm to get home.

And it isn’t just snow, it’s cold too. My car thermometer yesterday got to as low as -5 degrees fahrenheit. That’s cold, but nothing like how bad it can get around here.

So now with snow on the paths and cold in the air I am less eager to get out there. Fit Sugar’s How to Dress For Winter Running offers some good tips that I will probably try soon, but for now it’s back inside. Or at least, thinking about being back inside. I haven’t yet hit that treadmill since I have been back.

But snow and cold preventing me from running is not the only way that winter is getting in the way. Yesterday I had every intention of doing some strength training before work. I got up at 4:00am, did a little work on the computer as I woke up and then decided to check the driveway. Sure enough, another few inches had fallen that night and the road had already been plowed so the end of the driveway was extra deep. Since it was so early I used a shovel instead of the snowblower and by the time I was done I was happy I had left a clean driveway for my wife, but bummed out that I didn’t have time to exercise before I had to leave for work.

The good news with this snow though is skiing. My son and I are probably going out this Sunday, and I plan to strap on my heart rate monitor for the day to see what kind of a workout it is.

So I guess winter aint all bad.

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{ 9 comments }

Dona December 6, 2007 at 8:27 am: I for one consider snow shoveling a strength exercise. I’d say you got a real good workout this morning so don’t feel bad about not having time to exercise before work - believe me you exercised!
Jen December 6, 2007 at 10:32 am: You definitely got a workout this morning. Just because it isn’t what you would traditional do for your workout doesn’t mean it didn’t get your heart pumping. I know on the coldest days after I finish shoveling snow I am sweating.
Steve v4.6 December 6, 2007 at 11:04 am: Pat yourself on the back for choosing the shovel. Great job!
workout mommy December 6, 2007 at 1:19 pm: Shoveling snow is one great workout! Not only is it strength training but I bet your heart rate was elevated too. (next time wear your HRM for that too!) have fun skiing…and can I send our snow your way? I’m not a winter person, I would not survive in MN!

Lisa
Lady Shanny December 6, 2007 at 11:28 pm: If I were you, I’d strap on that heart monitor the next time you shovel snow. I think you’ll be surprised at what a workout you get. It just doesn’t seem like it because it’s out of the ordinary (well, maybe not out of the ordinary where you live, but here it snows 1 day a year and is gone by lunchtime).

Thanks for linking me!
Michelle December 7, 2007 at 10:08 pm: Shoveling is a great workout! I agree with everyone else, strap on that monitor next time you have to dig through that snow plowed snow, that’s the hard stuff!

I do have to say, though, I sure don’t miss the white stuff sometimes! Although I can’t wait to go snowboarding in a couple weeks!
john - from fat to fit December 8, 2007 at 5:41 am: Thanks all. The general consensus seems to be that I still got a workout. Well, I have to say I sure didn’t feel like I did. But, next time I use the shovel I’ll strap on the HRM and see how things look.
Fat Man December 9, 2007 at 5:03 am: Here in Florida the weather is amazing. I was at the beach today and was in total shock. I am not from Florida so being able to be at the beach getting a tan in the middle of December is simple mind boggling to me.

Shoveling is a workout, just make sure to use your legs. It would suck to throw your back out. I was washing the car today and broke a sweat, unexpectedly. Does that count as a workout?
Skinny Guy December 9, 2007 at 9:18 am: Before I lost, I used to dread the snow. Mostly because I can’t stand the stuff, but also because of the shoveling. Not that I have to worry about it too much here in South Jersey. Thankfully I have two teenagers to send out and take care of it when we get enough to worry about.

The weird thing is that as much as I still hate the stuff, I’m almost looking forward to the first real snowfall so that I can go out and shovel it without needing help. I think losing all this weight has really messed with my head!