Tips on How to Stay Active During the Winter

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When it comes to cooler weather, it can sometimes be difficult to stay physically active – especially if you’re used to exercising outdoors. Despite the shorter days and drops in temperature, Dr. Ali Ghahary still suggests patients try to remain as physically fit as possible during the winter.

If you want to avoid the cold but still want to keep fitness as a part of your daily routine, Dr. Ali Ghahary recommends exploring different methods of exercise. You can find some of his suggestions below.

One easy way to ensure you’re keeping fit is to join a gym. Gyms offer a wide range of exercise equipment such as treadmills, bicycles, stair climbers, and weights. Most gyms also offer fitness classes – which are usually available at no extra cost as part of your membership package or at a reduced cost. Similarly, many community centres also have gyms and they, too, offer exercise classes, which anyone can attend by paying a small drop-in fee. Indoor swimming is another great way to keep fit and there are many year-round pools open in and around Vancouver and Burnaby. Swimming is a great way to give your muscles a workout, and you can burn up to almost 300 calories.

For those who are more shy about working out in front of others or in groups, it’s also just as easy to exercise from the comfort of your own home. If you’re able to afford it and have extra room in your house, purchase an exercise bike or treadmill. You can also buy sets of weights and include those in your at-home gym, too. If affordability is an issue or you simply don’t have the space, Dr. Ali Ghahary recommends trying yoga or using your phone to find easy-to-follow at-home exercise routines. Working out at home can be just as good as going to a gym or an indoor pool, and you can reap many of the same benefits.

Even if you don’t have a workout planned, remember that many household activities also count as exercise. For example, vacuuming and shovelling snow.

Click here for even more fitness tips from Vancouver physician Dr. Ali Ghahary.