Beating the Winter Blues: 5 Indoor Fitness Activities Your Family will Love

During those freezing cold winter months when you aren’t able to get outside and it’s hard to muster up the motivation to get out and hit the gym, it can seem nearly impossible to get any exercise in.  Activity levels fall to one step above couch potato and we often wonder where the excess weight is coming from.  However, not all is lost.  You do still have a chance to maintain some form of an exercise routine even when the snow is falling and temps are ridiculously low.

Video games – this is not a suggestion to sit on the couch and stare at the television all day with a controller in your hand.  Systems such as the Oculus Quest, PlayStation, and even your smartphone offer games where you can be up and moving while you are playing. Blaston, Until You Fall, Zombies Run and Active Arcade are a few games that will not only get your whole family laughing, but also keep everyone active while the snow blows outside. 

Indoor obstacle course – use your furniture and everyday items around the house to create a fun, unique obstacle course that you all can enjoy.  Make it an event the whole family gets involved in, and time how long it takes each person to complete it.  The winner gets a prize or gets to choose how the next course will be set up.   Use your imagination and be as creative as you want. 

Turn up the music – This may be the one and only time that you don’t yell at the kids to turn the music down.  Blast some tunes as loud as you want and make room for a dance floor in the living room.  Your whole family will enjoy showing off their moves and will get a workout while they are at it.  Step it up a level and have each person create their own unique dance that they perform in front of the whole family. 

Indoor bowling – turn a hallway into a bowling alley with a few simple steps.  Empty soda or water bottles make great pins, and any ball will do. Keep score and see who is the bowling champion.  This type of bowling is cheaper AND you don’t have to wear those awful bowling shoes while you play.

Scavenger hunt – This is a perfect indoor activity to keep the kids busy.  It’s a great way to be creative and keep the imaginative juices flowing.  Hide a variety of items all through the house and leave clues that the kids have to follow to find them.  Whoever finds all items gets to choose a prize or decide what the family will watch on television that night.

Just because it’s cold and nasty outside doesn’t mean you have to give up all forms of exercise.  There are many creative ways to stay active indoors and make memorable moments with your family as well.  It’s one way to get your family looking forward to those cold, winter days rather than dreading them.

Hiking and Biking: Get Out and Get Some Fresh Air

We have some beautiful hiking trails in Northwest Arkansas. My husband and I love taking a walk along parts of our trail system. It's one of our favorite ways to get some exercise and spend some time together. You've probably seen the photos I've posted on social media sharing some of the unique and beautiful things we've discovered on these walks. If so, then you know why we enjoy exploring the different trails!

We also have miles of biking trails. In fact, Bentonville, AR is known as the mountain biking capital of the world.

In this fast paced life we don’t often stop to smell the roses or pause to reflect on how beautiful this world really is.   There are many benefits to getting outside, breathing in some fresh air, and taking in the nature around us.  This is especially true for busy families who barely have time to eat dinner together. 

Two activities that can pull a family together and get them moving are hiking and biking.  Not only will you get some great exercise, but also you will be able to connect with your family again and strengthen those relationships.  Not only that, but both hiking and biking have some fantastic benefits.

Great cardio – We all know how important it is to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, but this is sometimes hard to stick to especially for busy families.   However both hiking and biking are wonderful ways to get that important workout without having to visit a gym every day.  Both are wonderful for your cardiovascular system.  Your blood gets pumping and all those unused muscles are put to work helping to build strength and muscle tone.

Low/No Cost – Hiking and biking have a huge advantage over many other workouts. They are both totally free to enjoy whenever you choose.  Of course you will need bicycles and possibly some good hiking boots or walking shoes, but other than that you are free and clear to enjoy these activities without worrying about them impacting your bank account. 

Stress reduction – It has been proven that outdoor activities, fresh air, and sunshine can help reduce stress or worry in your life.   Getting outside with your family and connecting with them in a different way can do a world of good on any worrisome issues that are plaguing you.  Without the weight of the world pushing down on your shoulders it will be easier to enjoy your family time together, laughing and bonding in a way you wouldn’t otherwise.

Variety – Both of these activities provide variety in your workout.  When you hit the gym it can often become monotonous and boring to stare at a television screen while on the treadmill or stationary bike.  When you get outdoors and take a bike ride or hike one of the trails you get to take in different scenery every time you go.  Keep each member of the family involved and take turns choosing which trail to explore. 

There are benefits to just about any outdoor activity you choose.  Hiking and biking are wonderful simply because they allow you and your family to get back to the basics and take in all the wonders nature has to offer.  It’s a great way to connect with your family and take in some beautiful scenery at the same time.  The fresh air, cool breeze, and quiet calm can make you see things from a different perspective and enjoy your family time and what really matters in life. 

Why I'm Not Doing Dry January

I was going to try. I started out okay. And I made it a whole 7 days. But then I had a rough day in the office. My husband had an equally rough day at work. Add to that some issues with phone plans and having to replace phones which made it 8pm before we could even relax and think about dinner and I was ready! We decided to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Much too late to cook dinner at home. And as we walked in, there was the sign. $5 Melon Margaritas! Yup! You guessed it. A very appropriately placed sign combined with a stressful day and Dry January was over.

I did feel bad...for a moment. As the child in a family where several members had a troubling relationship with alcohol, I am all to aware of the problems it can cause. I know the benefits of abstaining. And as someone who is actively to lose weight and improve her health, I know that the extra calories in that Margarita didn't help me reach my goal.

But as I was joking with my husband on the ride back to the house how I had caved to temptation after only 7 days, I had to ask myself. Was "caved" really the right word? Was I fighting a craving for alcohol that I was unable to control? Was there a reason I felt I needed a month-long break from alcohol? Do I have a drinking problem? The answer to all of those questions is "No." I was jumping on the Dry January bandwagon for no other reason than it seemed like the thing to do at the time. I had been involved in a conversation about the trend and when asked if I was going to do it too, I just said yes. But the truth is, when it came right to it, I was relaxing with my husband and I simply wanted to enjoy a Margarita with my dinner. 

Having a drink is not necessarily a bad thing. There is some research to suggest that in certain circumstances the occasional glass of wine or beer can be beneficial. Having a drink doesn't mean you have to drink to excess. I'm 65 years old and I think I have been drunk twice in my life, back in my college days. I did it and determined I did not like the feeling of not being totally in control of my actions. I definitely did not like waking up with a hangover. And so I simply refuse to drink excessively. An occasional drink or two with dinner is my limit. I believe it's all about moderation, no matter what. Food, spending, whatever. (Okay, maybe not shoes. Shoes are different. One can never have too many pairs of shoes). I enjoy the occasional glass of wine or sherry and I am not going to spend an entire month of my life feeling guilty because I slipped up. I am not going spend 31 days feeling deprived if I'm out with friends and they are enjoying a REALLY good bottle of wine while I sip my unsweet tea. 

Yes, for many, Dry January is a great way to examine your relationship with alcohol. You may be drinking more than you realize. Most people do. And giving up alcohol can definitely impact your health. Just one drink per day can increase your risk of breast cancer. If you already have a higher risk due to family history or lifestyle, Dry January may be the kickstart you need to give up alcohol all together. If you're trying to lose weight, Dry January can possibly help you cut over 3000 calories from your diet. Giving up or at least significantly reducing alcohol consumption can help your skin look better, help you sleep better, and improve your mood. 

If you are doing Dry January for any of those reasons, go for it! I applaud you. But if you're like me and just going along with the crowd at the time, do yourself a favor. and stop stressing yourself over succumbing to temptation, stop torturing yourself when you slip, and do what's right for you. And if that means a Margarita with your Carne Asada Burrito, then relax and enjoy it. I did.