Happy Thursday! ;)
First up, some fun Housekeeping of the day:
1) Want a chance to win some Glo bars? Leave a comment on this post to enter Jessica’s giveaway! Hurry! Contest closes tomorrow morning!
2) Enter here for a chance to win a 1 year subscription to Cooking Light! Contest ends today!
3) Oh She Glows has been nominated for the blogger you’d most like to see on the Food Network. Please show your support and vote for me here!
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Project Snow: Stay Active and Fit This Winter!
Behold the SNOW WARRIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mother Nature’s got nothing on us this winter!
What is Project Snow?
Project Snow is a personal challenge to myself and all of my readers to stay committed to exercise (and have fun doing it) this Fall and Winter.
Specifically, I am challenging myself and all willing participants to commit to a minimum of 1-2 outdoor workouts throughout the Fall and Winter seasons. This will be a huge challenge for myself (and many of you) living in a Northern climate!
Why am I doing this? Am I nuts?!
I definitely think I am crazy for doing this challenge and I will think that even more once the bad weather really hits. I do not have a good track record with respect to exercising outdoors when it is cold out. I’m a wuss! I have always opted to stay inside a warm gym during the cold months, but I often find that my mood takes a huge hit when I am indoors for such a long stretch of time. Even with getting in my indoor workouts, I find myself feeling quite low over the winter. I strongly suspect that this is due to not getting outside enough. Fresh air and natural light can do wonders for the mood, especially when it gets dark at 5pm!
BEHOLD THE PROJECT SNOW FURY!!!!!!
Will you ‘attack’ winter with me? :D
My new motto is this:
For most types of weather, I will prepare for it and dress accordingly. Nature is to be enjoyed in all seasons, shapes, and forms and not only during 25C, sunny days.
Wait, isn’t working out in really bad weather…DANGEROUS?!
Yes, it sure is. And that is why I am not going to workout in dangerous conditions! I want to be very clear about this too. In no way, shape, or form am I encouraging you to go outside when it is not safe to do so whether that be due to extreme cold, darkness, or slippery conditions. As always, use your good judgment about it.
We have to be smart about Project Snow. When it is safe for me to do so, I will be getting outside for some activity and only when it is safe. If you feel like it is not safe to venture outdoors for a workout, please do not do so! I certainly will not be running outside when it is slippery or too cold outside.
How does Project Snow work?
Project Snow was created so that all of us can share our outdoor exercise tips and tricks with one another, in addition to encouraging each other to stay active and positive until Spring time. If we BOND together over these cold months, we can not only keep our spirits up, but stay fit and learn something while we are at it!
Over the fall and winter months, I will be providing tips and tricks that I learn along the way. I will also be asking questions for discussion so everyone can offer their own advice and experiences!
What type of activities can I do? I don’t like running!
You don’t have to run by any means! In fact, on really cold or snowy days, I won’t be running either. You can do anything from walking, hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, shoveling snow, skiing, etc etc! The sky is the limit! As long as you are getting outside and getting your heart rate up it is ALL good. :D
How do I participate?
All you have to do is commit to keeping active outdoors this Fall and Winter and make sure to stay up to date on my Project Snow posts. I also encourage you to contribute in the discussion and let everyone know how things are going over on your end! Tell us what the weather is like where you live and what you are doing to stay active!
What if I live in a warm climate? Can I still participate?
Of course you can! Just be sure to invite me to your place this winter! ;)
Project Snow Tip #1: LAYER YOUR CLOTHING!
This was me before my run yesterday! It was cold out (around 4C/39F), and I really didn’t want to run outside. After receiving a few encouraging Tweets, I decided to bundle up and get out there!
Bottom layer: Sports Bra tank
Middle Layer: Shape Jacket
Top Layer: Shell/Windbreaker jacket
I also wore some cotton gloves (yes, with the hole! haha) and a hat. I like hats in the cold temperatures because they keep the heat in.
The run:
- Distance: 3.4 miles
- Duration: 30:47 mins
- Avg speed: 9:10 min/mile
- Max Heart rate: 176 bpm
- Avg HR: 165 bpm
I love layering, but I always have one major problem: What do I do with the layers once I warm up and get too hot? I wanted to take my jacket off, but I had no where to put it so I left it on!
I would appreciate to hear from you guys on this! Leave a comment below if you’d like to join in on the fun.
Project Snow is Sketchie approved! He says he will cheer me on from his warm bed. ;)
What do you do with your layers? Tie around the waist? I would think this would get in the way. Share your ideas!
Project Snow’s next topic will be a tip I learned on how to make it much easier getting outside when you don’t want to.
I would love to walk in the winter, but alas no one shovels their sidewalks and it’s to dangerous to walk on the streets.
Another problem is I get home from work at 5pm. It gets dark about 30 minutes later.
So I think I’ll stick with the gym on the week days.
I do NOT like the winter!!! BUT I feel like it makes me a better/stronger runner, so am learning to just deal with it. Unfortunately I don’t have any suggestions as to where to put the jacket – mine usually goes around my waist (note, this does not work when it’s raining – jacket just soaks up water and feels like a lead weight!). I dress for it to be 20 degrees warmer than it is outside, b/c once I get going, it will feel like that. I focus more on my chest, head, and hands as that’s where I tend to get cold the most. Excited about Project Snow – great idea!!
Great idea!!!
I live in Norther New England so winters can be a bit challenging, BUT I gotta get out there and train for my spring marathon!
I have been known to run in sub-zero weather (that is in fahrenheit), snowstorms, sleet, freezing rain, etc. I’d go crazy if I had to log all those miles on a treadmill though.
My tips…layers definitely are key. If I need to shed a layer I will tie it around my waist or tuck it behind a tree and get it later. I love the “What should I wear” tool on Runner’s World.
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/whattowear/0,7152,s6-240-325-330-0,00.html
It can feel so chilly when you first step out, but this tool gives me a reality check of how heavily I really need to dress…. or should I say how light I need to dress. It is good to start out a little cool for your run as you quickly warm up!
It’s getting cold in Boston too, but I’ve vowed to keep on running outside despite the cold!
I highly recommend getting half-zip tops – that way, you can unzip the top when you start to heat up. Like this one: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=9957046
I also try to dress as lightly as I can, and even if I’m chilly to begin with, I know I’m going to heat up as I go along.
I live in a cold climate too and think this is an awesome idea! I actually got frostbite on my toes last winter from running outside! I am hoping they are better this year and I will be able to run more outside! I don’t mind running in the cold (as long as i’m wearing enough layers) but running in the snow/ice is horrible!
Great idea, exercise motivation is a challenge for me in cold weather and I’m hoping to get more snowboarding in this year.
I would absolutely love to sample some Glo Bars for free!!
I am SO excited about this.
since ive taken up running, and def. like outdoors better than treadmill, ive been thinking about this coming winter and how i am going to go about this.
Should i get a new gym membership?
Should I suck it up and purchase a treadmill?
Should I move to Texas? (ok. ive never been THAT serious about the thought process.)
I am SO EXCITED about this challenge. Getting OUTSIDE and doing some exercise :) SUCH A GREAT IDEA.
and i love these photos, Angela. Just precious! :)
and i agree with Lizzie, above, this will make me a better/stronger runner if i can continue to run through the coldness. And that is so worth it.
I am so in! I already had this idea, to keep going outside this winter. I tend to hide inside too,and it makes me miserable. So I will definately join the Project! With all of us together mother N really has nothing on us!
I finally get the layering thing now: it’s 20 degrees for Fahrenheit! I never really got how it would be smart to dress like it were 25C when it’s actually 0…lol.
Those pictures are hilarious, hahaha! Thank you for this post. It gave me the courage to go outside in a while. It is dark already so I will have to skip the park and just run around the block. I am happy that it is still about 12C over here (during the day).
I’m lucky enough to live in California, so I don’t have to deal with snow or anything extreme…but it also means I’m a wuss who starts to freeze when it drops below 60 F! This is a great idea; for me the toughest part is finding time to workout during the day because…well, there’s not nearly as much time *in* the day in the winter!
For some motivation…try doing a light warm-up inside before going out to run or whatever. Just a couple minutes of push-ups, crunches, and jumping jacks, then throw on your last layer and dash outside–your heart’s already pumping and you’re a little warm so that first mile won’t be so miserable (and if you wimp out, hey, at least you did something!).
haha I love the snow warrior pics!! THAT is why you are my favorite blogger ^_^
ANg this is AWESOME!! Especially since I just moved to Boston…and I’m already frozen…and it’s October….
YIKES :O
I’m excited though, and i do have a gym pass but i will def be frolicking in the snow!! I like the tie around waist deal, or else the drop-off is good too if u loop by your house! I will be keeping my eyes peeled for project snow updates :D
hahha..OH SHE SNOWS!!
I love the idea…I hope I can be brave enough to participate! I am going to join the gym for Nov, Dec, Jan so I can keep running…but maybe I’ll do some walking or hiking outside through the winter. And I’m being a total wuss, because in live in the mountains of North Carolina and it’s not nearly as cold here as where I grew up (New England) or where you live! So I’ll try my best :)
If shoveling counts I’m in! I’ve become a master at layering, which is really important when shoveling your car out of a 4ft snow drift!!! Plus my asthma ‘loves’ the cold. lol
Your Snow Warrior pictures made me laugh out loud! So cute!
I live in Boston and the weather is already getting cold. I’m going to go my best to participate, taking my dog for winter walks and bundling up for chilly runs. :)
I ran a 1/2 Marathon with a long sleeve shirt tied around my waist. I tucked the sleeves in after I tied them so they weren’t dangling in front of me. I also tried rolling the shirt a bit before I tied it so it didn’t hang too long in the back.
I’m definitely a wuss when it comes to running outside in the winter. Even in only slightly cold temperatures the chill always makes my ears hurt really badly and start throbbing. I’ve tried wearing a headband over my ears but sometimes they don’t stay up or aren’
I’m definitely a wuss when it comes to running outside in the winter. Even in only slightly cold temperatures the chill always makes my ears hurt really badly and start throbbing. I’ve tried wearing a headband over my ears but sometimes they don’t stay up or aren’t warm enough (in addition to looking pretty silly). They can also get pretty gross once you start sweating. Any ideas for this?
Forgot to mention – this will be my first Ontario winter running outside, but other runners in my city have been recommending that I buy those spiked things that attach to your shoes so that you get traction in the snow – they said it’s sort of weird at first, but the safety reasons are worth it and you do get used to them. Can’t remember what they’re called right now.
Well I’m in Vancouver right now so we don’t really get “winter” as most Canadians do. ;) But i will participate fully. I have a half marathon in February, so no hybernating for me!
I fully plan to train outside when I’m at home for winter vacation too. There’ll be snow (and more sun hopefully) then here for sure.