Winter Fitness Option

[Barry]

We have a huge municipal aquatic facility here in Washington, DC. It houses an olympic sized swimming pool (50m), a very large whirlpool/spa, a kiddie pool and also a water fitness/leisure pool. Sometimes I think the water is over chlorinated but after I spray myself with a little vitamin-c dissolved in water and then shower as usual I don't notice the chlorine scent too much. The pool is massive and most of the people who go there seem to be nice. The lifeguards were accommodating when I was recovering from surgery. I'm there 3x a week doing aqua kinetics year round.

I also have a trainer at home and a bench and some adjustable dumbbells.

I did some winter hiking in the past but following my huge back surgery I just can't take the risk of falling. I sure don't need a revision.

[TRBeck]

Wendell, good thread. I have never owned nor used snowshoes, and being in central TX, occasion to do so seems a distant hope at best, but I understand the shift in fitness focus during the winter. For me, I still run in winter, and I bike as my primary transport these days whatever the weather, but then we're minutes from everything we need here. Fitness-wise, I find kettlebells a good option this time of year. I can get in the work in a short period of time, just step out into the garage or backyard, and they're great fun to boot. That said, nothing beats inhaling a good blast of cold winter air - just enjoyed a trip to my parents' home in Nebraska for that and other reasons. Anyway, enjoy the snowshoes and staying fit.

[jww]

Bryan, I think it's great that you are able to get good results at the gym. I used to as well, but as I have gotten older, I have wanted to be more outside on my own, that's all.

[brothers]

Needless to say I admire you guys who are working on staying fit.

[jww]

Got out today om my 930s for my 1st time for an hour, and man was it great.

The warm weather just made it so nice, I donned some of my light winter clothing walked 2 minutes to the greenbelt near our house and slapped on the snowshoes, set my pole lengths, and off I went.

My initial findings:

1. I found an entirely unused set of muscles -- in my posterior no less
2. I needed to be conscious to walk slowly and deliberately
3. steering clear of yellow and brown snow takes some forward planning .... I was successful in each and every attempt today
4. poles were a great help to to maintain my balance --- especially since I haven't done this since I was a 12 yr old boy scout
5. My heart rate increased steadily, and it was quite easy to keep in the aerobic zone of 80%

I just had a hoot today. It felt like I was on my bike -- just me, a trail, and the out of doors. Loved it immensely. Would like to get my wife into this, but knowing how she is out of doors in winter weather, it's probably not going to happen.

Nonetheless, my winter fitness goal is to try to get 3 sessions a week for 30-45 minutes minimum when I am in town. I'll still take gear with me for the elipticals and treadmills at hotels when I travel though. I luckily have a number of greenbelt areas where I can go for variety -- and if I am really ambitious, there is a great river-side walk about a 10 minute drive from home that has some variable terrain with a couple of good slopes. I think I may have found my replacement for my bike in the winter months without sitting on a trainer. Woot!

I also plan to wear my Garmin 310XT GPS watch to track my walks as well just like I do with my bike ..... love to know and see where I have been.

[Rufus]

Good on you Wendell, and I'm extremely jealous. I've been cooped up in the house for over a week now battling one of the worst cases of flu that I can remember. Thus even if the weather and snow conditions here were more favourable I could not have gone out if I'd wanted to. Even worse though is that I haven't been able to work out for a week and a half and it looks as though I'll be out of action for another week. On the slightly plus side is that I've lost 6 pounds because I've lost my appetite, but I doubt this is permanent.

[jww]

Day 2, sunny and nice (-1C). The snow had hardened up considerably from two days ago as the temps dropped to stay below 0C for the last two nights. Took my 310XT with me, but forgot to set it for running, so it thought I was on a bike, and recorded data accordingly. Nonetheless, you can see today's walk/workout. I walked to the greenbelt, put the snowshoes on, then took them off at the main intersection near my house about 30 minutes or so later.

I found in the Garmin Connect tool that there is a snowshoeing identifier. That is quite cool to me --- they really built true multi-sport activity and tracking into this thing.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/430926536

The only negative of any activity for me is that afterwards, I struggle significantly with my tinitis issues which impact my hearing even with my hearing aids in for a couple of hours afterwards.

[jww]

Today's ramble by the Ottawa River Parkway. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/431934102

For any of you who have followed my typical bike ride, you'll notice it's a portion of the same route.

[JayTrek]

Don't most folks hit the gym? Most of those are indoors. Of course, such things as cycling and skiing require wide open spaces, but walking can be done inside, even on a treadmill. I personally prefer simply being outside, just for the record. Hitting the gym seems a bit limiting. I'm not one for using machines. Just a few random thoughts and observations, not necessarily on point.

Cycling indoors on a trainer is a good option. Trick is to make sure you have a bike computer that measures off the back wheel...not the front. Oh...and have something you enjoy watching handy so as to not get bored. I typically will watch sports while I ride.

You guys are motivating me. I need to pull the bike and trainer out of the garage this weekend.

[Squire]

It's too cold to exercise.

[jww]

The TreadClimbers have become increasingly popular --- but they are also incredibly expensive for what you get. We thought a couple of times of getting a treadmill for my wife to use in inclement weather (read cold, dark winter) but now with part of our basement family room dedicated to granddaughter-playland, we really don't have a good space to put it. Now --- if we had a conservatory build off of the living room --- that might be .... no, I must not spend money on another home improvement project --- repeat the foregoing as many times as needed to change course .....

[dosco]

The only negative of any activity for me is that afterwards, I struggle significantly with my tinitis issues which impact my hearing even with my hearing aids in for a couple of hours afterwards.

Oy, that sucks. I have a pretty decent case myself ... but it seems to come and go, which I'm sure has more to do with my perception of it and overall attention to whatever I am enmeshed in.

For example, right now my mind is wandering a bit as I sit in a quiet space ... and my ears are ringing like hell. At bedtime I'm fairly certain I won't notice it at all and will fall right asleep.

Regards-
Dave

[jww]

Yup indeed -- not to hijack my own thread, but tinnitus can be quite debilitating .... on top of it I have hearing loss, so hearing aids are my de-rigor daily except when being active.

I am hoping to strap on the snowshoes at least once before the end of Saturday -- with luck possibly twice as I have a lot of business travel right at the moment ..... so my mid-day rambles aren't possible for another couple of weeks.

[Squire]

You guys are hard core, I'm staying by the fire, Scotch in hand.

[JayTrek]

You guys are hard core, I'm staying by the fire, Scotch in hand.

I hope you do not need a fire down there in Jackson today. It is well above 60ºF here in Decatur today.

[Squire]

No fire today, Scotch though.

[jww]

Been enough snow this past 24 hours, that shovelling it has been my winter fitness option. Don't like using the snow thrower when it's not really heavy, and this snow although not light and fluffy, certainly wasn't sloshy-heavy.

[Squire]

Wendell I will be content to live out my days without ever learning how to shovel snow.

[jww]

You are missing out, Squire. In fact, I have been thinking of posting a video to my YouTube channel on Method Snow Shoveling. The moto is Push, Scoop, Throw. Or alternately, pull the start cord on the snow thrower and walk.

[Squire]

Not quite there Wendell, if it's Method it's got to be complicated.