Running on Pixie Dust: winter

Staying fit despite the cold, winter weather!

As I brace with the rest of the Mid-Atlantic for Snowmageddon 2016, now is the perfect time to talk about staying fit during the winter months. I don't know about you, but I am not a fan of cold weather running. As a working mom, it's hard for me to find the time to go out for an evening run thanks to the earlier sunset time and I also find it hard to dress appropriately for a cold run - I'm either too cold at the beginning or too hot at the end.

While I don't avoid running altogether, I do usually only run one or two days a week. Instead, I opt for indoor workouts that will both challenge me and keep me in shape. Unfortunately, I don't have a treadmill so I turn to workout videos for my daily workouts. Depending on the time I have for a workout that day and how I feel, I usually choose one of three DVDs.

When I feel like a lighter workout, I pop in a walking DVD. For those of you that are serious runners, this probably seems like a terrible option. But, those of you who follow along with me on a regular basis know I run and workout for fun, not speed. For that reason, the walking DVD is a great option for me as it keeps me moving and provides a good cardio workout without adding a lot of stress at the end of the day. I use Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds 7 Day Calorie Blast. My favorite walk is the 2 mile fitness walk if you're looking for a great thirty minute workout.

Anyone for a little downward dog?

On days that I feel like I want to push myself a bit harder, I turn to Jillian Michaels. I have been a longtime fan of her workout videos. Not only are they quick, but they are also intense. And, I definitely feel the burn the next day. The 30 Day Shred is a fantastic workout and takes less than 25 minutes. In this DVD, you'll find three different levels which gives you choices to rotate through so you don't get bored with the same routine.

My third go to DVD is Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown. This is not your typical yoga video, which is good for me because I'm not a big fan of yoga. What I like about this video though is Jillian Michaels brings her intensity to everything in the workout - the moves and her instruction. This is also a workout that can be completed quickly in the evening. And sometimes, I even have a yoga buddy in my son!

I'd love to hear any great ideas you have for working out indoors during cold and / or messy winter weather! I like to have some variety in my workout plan and am always looking to see what I can add to keep up my motivation and my training.