Oh, Oh! Here Come the Holidays and the Cold Weather

As I write this it’s not quite 4:30 in the afternoon and dusk is rapidly transitioning to darkness. It’s also been very raw and chilly today; we are embarking on the Great Temptation Season, the temptation to eat more and move less. Oh, oh! That’s not good news for the senior exerciser or the senior wannabe exerciser.

But that doesn’t mean you toss in the towel — or the napkin — and imitate bears from now until spring. The major difference between bear hibernating and human hibernating is that the bears stop eating and we eat more.

But, not you, not this year. You are a committed and determined follower of your path to fitness! You will do whatever it takes to stay or get fitter and healthier this winter. There is no reason you can’t greet the vernal equinox with a fit health body and a great big grin on your face because you feel so great.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Make sure you do some outside walking every day. If you live where it’s sometimes icy underfoot, there are nifty little grippers, sort of mini-crampons, that you can purchase for your boots. Humans have lived in close proximity with Mother Nature for eons; it is my hunch that spending so much time indoors is part of the reason we have so much depression in the US. Research is also consistently showing that we need 15 minutes or so of direct sun exposure on our skin every day to ensure adequate supplies of vitamin D.

Invest in some great outdoor clothing. It will enable you be very comfortable in really low temperatures. Besides being so functional, you’ll look great!

I love being outdoors in the winter; I find the scenery so very beautiful, the quiet surroundings are almost mystical. It’s peaceful in a different way than during the vibrant growing seasons of the year.

2. Join your local Y. The price of membership for seniors is very reasonable. In addition to facilities for a workout, you get trained folks who can help you get the maximum benefit from your exercise sessions. The possibility of new friends will also be found.

3. Use your local mall for walking. Many of the across the country open early to accomodate walkers. A couple of dangers about mall walking: the food court and the damage you can do to your checking account if you add shopping to your walking trips.

4. Find an exercise program on television and become a faithful follower.

5. Soon you’ll be able to purchase my video downloads on www.mypathtofitness.com and learn how to make every day activities exercise and fitness enhancing.

6. Walk around in your house. My grandfather, in his seventies and stricken with Parkinson’s, would proudly tell us about walking a mile every dayi n the circle of his living room, dining room, and kitchen. It must have been boring, but bless him for his courage and determination. My Mom, very visually impaird due to macular degeneration does her mile every day here on the coast of Maine. What great role models I’ve been blessed with.

If you’ve got stairs in your home, climb them as fequently as possible! Lifing your body against gravity is great for preseving and building muscle.

7. Go dancing!

My cozy home is now totally enclosed in darkness. I feel quite snuggled in my cave. I’m going to relax and finishing sipping my light latte. Til next time!