Image via SkiReport.com
The snow has not stopped falling over the last few days in my hometown and everything is covered in white. Some people see this and think of nothing but the summer they want back. For thousands of others, myself included, winter means winter sports.
Whether it is downhill skiing, snowboarding or even cross country skiing, there’s one little piece of information every winter sports enthusiast needs to know before they suit up, load up and head off to enjoy their sport of choice: The ski report. There’s no way you’re going to spend all of that time, energy and money without knowing the conditions, including the temperature, the snow depth and the wind speed.
The good news is there are plenty of places that can help you find out exactly what’s going on in your neck of the woods. From Web sites to iPhone applications, there are tons of ways to check the snow details at whichever ski hill you frequent. One of our favorites is SkiReport.com and their amazingly slick iPhone App that uses GPS to find all the details at any given moment at the ski hill nearest to you. That’s right, now you can know instantly whether or not getting yourself out of bed on a cold morning is worth it or whether you should wait for better powder, better weather and friendlier skies.
The bottom line is it’s getting easier and easier to stay active, stay fit and stay completely tapped into the physical world around us. Many may say that technology is ruining our connection to nature. I am inclined to disagree. If used properly, it can tap us even further into things we might not have done other wise. Choose the latter.
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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
Have you noticed what time of year it is? The countdown has official begun to Christmas, one of the biggest and most expensive holidays of the entire year, and the number of days you have left to actually get some shopping done is dwindling. That said, we’re here to make your life a bit easier and offer up some healthy, fun and inexpensive gifts that can fill those stockings, pad the base of that tree and make the fitness freaks in your life abundantly happy. In the event they don’t exactly love exercise or fitness, heck, maybe this will be the key to their New Year’s resolutions!
These gifts range in price from about $10 to about $100, so no matter who you’re shopping for, or how much you want to spend, you’re going to be able to find a gift that will work. Try some of these on for size and I can almost guarantee that each and every person on your Christmas list will wake up happy on Dec. 25!
- Heart rate monitors
- Exercise balls
- Stainless steel water bottles
- Adjustable weight dumbells
- Yoga mats
- Gym bags
- Year subscription to a sports or fitness magazine
- Exercise headphones
- Wii Fit
- Exercise DVD programs
- Gym membership
Any one of these gifts will certainly put you at the tip top of the Secret Santa scale this year, and the best news is that they won’t break the bank. Do you have any other gift ideas that we failed to mention? Any fitness and healthy lifestyle stocking stuffers that will ensure that we’re not getting lumps of coal in return?
Sound off, we’d love to hear your “go-to” gifts that never fail to disappoint and always impress. Anything new and popular this year we shouldn’t overlook? Let’s hear what you’ve got!
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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
Remember a few days ago how I told you the general rule of thumb when it comes to exercising outdoors during winter months? Here’s a refresher: If it’s sub-zero, stay inside! Well, today in my location, it’s approximately 15 below zero, before even factoring in the windchill. So I’m staying in and going to write about a great, fun and intense way for all the rest of you in non-Arctic temperatures to get fit this winter!
I briefly mentioned it before in my Winter Activities: A Calorie Burning Guide so you already know that snowshoeing is an amazing way to get yourself in seriously great shape, while having a great time with whomever you choose to do it with. The thing that sets snowshoeing apart from many of its other winter sport counterparts is its instant accessibility. There is no steep learning curve that comes with sports like skiing, hockey or snowboarding … literally strap a pair of the new, light-weight shoes onto your feet and you’re ready to go as hard as you want, for as long as you feel up to it.
Saying that, there are some tips and primers to get you started, beginning with the gear. Based on just how often you think you’ll partake in the activity, some people would be better suited to rent equipment until they are sure they love it and a purchase is worth it. Once you’ve tackled that hurdle, the next decision is exactly what kind of snowshoeing you’re going to be taking part in. Will you be a fitness snowshoer who is out for the best workout possible? Will you be a recreational snowshoer who is just doing it for fun and maybe a bit of fitness? Will you be the hiking/backpacking type who hauls tons of gear in and around them? Depending on exactly which type of snowshoeing you choose, the equipment changes a bit.
The next step is to get completely measured up. Your height, weight, shoe size and most importantly the type of snow and trails you’ll be snowshoeing on all change the size/weight and length of the snowshoe and gear you’ll need. Head to a professional shop. Or, if you’re shopping online, at least get measured somewhere first to ensure that the shoes you get are the perfect fit, type and style for not only the activity you’ll be doing, but the snow you’ll be doing it on. A good pair of boots to strap the snowshoes to is paramount. Talk to an expert. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
Finally, get out there and get going! We already know it can burn a ton of calories, and you won’t be frustrated after 10 minutes of falls, bruises and bumps. Instant accessibility, great workouts, great fun and an activity you can do with all of your friends and family make snowshoeing one of winter’s best and brightest activities. What are you waiting for?! Get started!
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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
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