Snow and ice and freezing temperatures, oh my!

I need big-time help. I'm stuck in northern Utah and I am soooooo not a snow/cold weather kinda person. What do you guys do for exercize in crazy-cold climates?

I was so active in the summer- hiking, running, etc. but now with winter in full-swing I've become almost completely inactive and have gained about five pounds to boot. Here's the thing, I HATE winter weather. It doesn't matter how many layers I put on, I am always FREEZING. I've tried snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and such, but I just can't get into it. I've even tried running a few times in the past week, but I usually don't last for more than five minutes. Literally, the thought of going out in the snow just makes me want to crawl into my sleeping bag and hunker down.

So, in a desperate attempt to get back into some sort of a fitness routine, I've decided to pay $5 and go to the university swimming pool tonight- though I'm still not sure how I'm going to get there (my car is buried and there's no way I'm walking 45 min. thru the snow).

Basically, I need advice. The only real activity I've done in the past few months is some easy yoga from the comfort of my bedroom. Going to a gym is not really an option, 1) because I can't afford it, and 2) because I couldn't get there.

Any ideas?

I would look at some exercise vidoes and pick a couple that look like they'd be a good work out and even a little fun. I live in Wisconsin, so I feel your pain. We are expecting 14 inches today, so I'm also not leaving the house. Stay warm and good luck finding some great new workouts to try.

Snow shoveling seriously burns lots of calories in little time! Plus its something you have to do anyways..so its a bonus! :)

I'm in Ottawa, Canada, and we can get snow anytime from November through April (with a few freakish storms outside that), so I hear you.  That is a big reason why I bought my own elliptical machine.  If that's out of the question, can you try exercise DVDs to find one you like?  Another thing I've done is clear out the middle of the living room and skip rope, but that may depend on how high your ceilings are.

Hey Politica, I am also in Northern Utah (Logan) and a current USU student. It's finally starting to look like a real winter here...winters like I remember, not these wimpy snowpacks we have had in recent years.  The joke here is that we have four seasons--June, July, August, and Winter.  Believe it or not, it's been pretty mild temperature wise. It was -36° Farenheit here when my second son was born! I do hope you find a way to keep warm, though.

Is public transportation an option? How about mall walking? They open the main part of the Cache Valley mall early, several hours before any of the stores open, to provide a free indoor place for people to walk in the winter.

USU students can use any of the indoor facilities for free all year. By the time you pay nonstudent fees for a semester, you might as well have paid tuition for a class (reimbursed by many companies?) and had free access to the pools, weight room/gym, and indoor track. Might be something to consider? If you are interested, I would love to continue this conversation offline.

Best of luck!

I'm in Montana and the only time that I don't run is when the wind chill is more than 5 or 10 below. I'm not a cold weather person and am always battling cold hands. For me the key is that I enjoy getting outside and to do that in the winter you have to dress for it. It takes me 10-20 minutes to get warmed up when I first get outside, so you have to try and make it past whatever you tipping point is. After that you will be fine and when you get back home you will be toasty warm and sweating. It took me a whole season to figure out how many layers I needed or did not need, it's really trial and error finding what works for you and getting good clothes helps too.

I really LOVE running when it is snowing... there is nothing better than running on fresh snow and hearing it crunch under you footsteps.

I'm the same, but weather isn't as bad as yours.  I hope by next winter I can buy a treamill or ellipitical.

I use arm weights and concentrate on my flabby upper arms.

Also theres a fitness show running all day on cable and I'm trying for 30 min a day, to follow it, whether its yoga, or belly dancing, kick boxing, or etc.