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.
bahahahaha….SNOW WARRIOR!!!!
Hi, Great idea…I’m in too for 1-2 runs per week! My husband has been trying to convince me that you can keep running during winter, but I guess I needed to hear it from you guys. Do you wear your regular sneakers on the snow? I started running this summer and I don’t want to lose my momentum!
I would love to win some Glo Bars – I get stuck on one flavor of Luna Bar and need to find something new and healthy.
For me I find that I don’t do as much exercise unless I go to the gym – there is space to stretch, do crunches, and use weights there. And other people around me encourage me to work out longer!
I love this idea!! I am training for a marathon in January, so I will be trying to stay motivated to run outside in the cold. Layering up is key…I normally just hold my sweaters, etc because wrapping them around my waist just annoys me. I am weird, but I know for me keeping my hands warm is key!! I gotta say, this post made my day…your pictures are great they made me laugh, LOL>
I live in Georgia (80 degress today, but 40 by the weekend), so it’s not so cold in the winter. Just did the Jillian Michaels Shred; I’ll be sore tomorrow. Trying to lose some lbs. to fit into my jeans. Gonna order some Amazing Grass and some of your bars.Loved your pics!!
Here’s a fun fact for ya – I just learned that you should dress as if it’s 20 degrees warmer than it really is, because that’s about equivalent to how much your body will feel like it’s heating up when you run!
I learned this the hard way, but FREEZINGGGGGG before the start of my marathon on Sunday, but eventually stripped off most of my layers once I started running! My toes get super cold so I think it’s important to invest in a good, thick pair, and make sure you don’t double up on your socks for the first time at a race – if you have room in your shoes to do so, go for it, but make sure you practice this on a training run.
Also, my grandma has a pair of shoe “grips” that enable her to walk on ice… they are only about $10 but she loves hers!
You could also get a couple of those handwarmer things that yuo can buy at the drugstore that heat up when you puncture the center… like what you would take skiing… don’t know why I can’t think of a better name for these things, but you know what I mean :)
Also, after running for awhile I tend to want to take off my gloves and headband…. you can loop a headband/ear warmer over a spibelt, if you use one, so that you can carry it with you on the rest of your run without wearing it.
It’s also great to make sure to wear lotion on your face and exposed body parts, like your hands, so you don’t get windburn – and don’t forget the chapstick!
Lastly, I think it’s important to wear layers, but to be smart about it. Everyone is different, but I personally find that if I go running in a pair of my thick velour pajama pants I will be warm, but also sweaty and uncomfortable! Don’t underestimate the quality of a good pair of dryfit pants and tops, such as Underarmour :)
Definitely in for Project Snow :) Just got a bunch of cold-weather running gear delivered today!
omg sketchie is so cute!
anyway, i have been making an attempt to do this already so sign me up girl! i would love to share tips with everyone … should look at my last post for my winter warrior outfit lol :) more like winter ninja LOL :D
i have tied around the waist before. its okay.
oh, and i hate treadmills so thats my main reason. love outdoors. hate cold. this will be a challenge.
-muffy
Love Project Snow. I’ve never been a runner when it’s cold outside before, really, so I’m a little nervous. But I’m determined and that’s the important thing. I can commit to 2 workouts a week outdoors and I am! :D
When I was living in a log cabin (no running water, had to split wood to keep warm), my car was a mountain bike. No matter how cold it got, I quickly learned the importance of gritting my teeth and bearing the initial bite of the cold, because eventually I would be sweaty and super warm. Even when it was -65 F it was important to limit my layers. Windproof fronts on my fleece pants and jacket broke the freezing wind, but exposed fleece on the backs allowed moisture to escape and kept me from freezing to death (literally) on those rare days when I would crash my bike and end up having to walk the rest of the way to work. Under the fleece pants and jacket, I usually wore one layer of heavy-weight non-cotton propylene and little else. It makes me queasy thinking about my brave, younger self surviving that winter, but what great memories! If I knew how to convert a slide into a digital photo, I’d attach a photo of me on my mountain bike in front of a bank sign that announced, in huge glowing numbers, -65 F!!!
Another important thing to always have with you when you run, summer or winter, is some form of ID. In the unlikely or most unfortunate event you are struck by a vehicle or have a medical emergency, you need to have id on you, emergency contacts, and health conditions/allergies.
good idea! i live in minnesota and usually end up going into hibernation mode in the winter. i accept your challenge and will get me ass outside!
Count me in! I am wanting to start running again, and this will help get me started. I am in London so not quite as cold as to have snow, but chilly nonetheless :)
These comments have some great tips already! Thank you!
I really loved running through the winter last year, so I’m definitely up for doing it again. I’m a little worried about doing marathon distance training through the worst of winter (and I live in Calgary, so it is the very worst) but I like a challenge ;)
I kind of have to laugh when people say “I’ll run as long as it’s not snowy, or icy, or slushy” . . . uh, that’s like four months of the year where I live. I’m out there in pretty much anything short of a blizzard or -40C windchill. And, yes, I fall on the ice a lot. But I fall way more just walking home than I do running. The quick cadence definitely keeps you stable.
I also love tobogganing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Both are so much fun and a killer workout.
I’m definitely in! I actually ran outside all last winter, but starting to run in the cold again seems like such a challenge after the summer sunshine.
I agree with the tips some other people have given so far– you should be a little cold when you first go out because you’ll warm up later. I also wear a warm headband over my ears because wearing a hat makes me overheat (even in very cold weather), and instead of a jacket I wear a vest, which keeps my chest warm without covering me up too much. The vest also zips up to my chin, which is great for protecting my throat from the cold.
And one other thing for those working out in the evenings– be sure to wear something reflective so that you’re visible! It’s going to start getting dark at 4 pm here in Estonia soon, so this is a MUST for me.
I don’t run right now( as I have switched to competing in figure) but in the past I found registering for races was good motivation to get me out the door through the winter.
I live in Southern Ontario as well so I would plan to do the Boxing Day 10 miler in Hamilton. The would force to me to keep my 15 k base which would set me up to begin 1/2 training in January. I would then do the Chilly 1/2 Marathon in Burlington early March followed by the “Around the Bay” 30 k road race in Hamilton at the end of the month. After this you are only 12k away from a spring marathon should you choose to do one!
OMG those pictures had me rolling, Angela! LOL love it. Sure, I’ll participate! I tend to get Seasonal Affective Disorder in the winter, and maybe this will help!
I’m in. I am a cold hater so during the summer I joined a running club so I would be more inclined to get out with a group during the colder months. So far it’s working.
I recommend wearing a good dry wicking long sleeve base layer and a windproof jacket that you can remove the sleeves from before going out. I have this Nike jacket http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/details.cfm?ProdId=3996 which is keeping my at the right temp with the sleeves off for now.
I thought I was cold but seeing other people’s comments makes me feel like I shouldn’t complain about the temperature here. :)
well, I am hoping for a pair of snow shoes this winter.
I’m totally down with it! I run in the winter (I have no access to a gym or treadmill) and most people think I’m looney. Well I would be if I didn’t get to run! I actually love running in the cold and when it’s snowing out and my tracks are the first tracks of the day, that’s a very calming moment. :) I would love to be a part of Project Snow and in fact I’m about to do my own post on layering as well! I’ll let you know when it’s up. :D