Surviving the New Hampshire Winters

Outside only because I had to : )

Living in New Hampshire in the winter has its perks, mountains for skiing, frozen lakes for hockey and trails for snowshoeing. But when you don’t like the cold, winter can be a little rough on your body and soul. If you are not a tundra lover like me don’t despair. You don't need to hibernate under your blanket for a few months (although once in a while with a good book is fine : ). Here are a few tips to survive the dark days ahead.

Exercise - Every day for at least 30 minutes. Not only does it warm you up but it gets the happy endorphins going. You don’t even have to leave your house. Try out some video workouts, use your steps or get creative with your own dance moves.

Drink Warm  -Warm lemon or apple cider vinegar water and herbal teas can warm you up. You may also enjoy a cup or two of good for you bone broth.

Eat Good Food - Now is the time to get creative with soups, stews and comfort food. Just load it up with healthy veggies and proteins. Make the crockpot your best friend and discover some new in season tastes like roasted root vegetables.

Embrace the Stillness - Not ever day has to be crazy busy and scheduled from morning to night. Take advantage of snowed in days to clean the clutter, spend time with your family or just be still. 

Fitness Adventure #2: Body Combat

Off to go punch people! Although Body Combat is held at your typical gym setting I heard great things and wanted to give it a try. It is a Les Mills class so like Beachbody Live classes so they are choreographed to modern music. I was attending the launch of another session which just means everyone is learning it for the first time too.

Drove to the gym, signed my waiver and get started right away. The class reminded me a lot of typical kickboxing classes. A lot of punching and kicking with some push-ups mixed in. The moves were pretty simple, easy to follow along to,  so we could focus on kicking higher and punching stronger. I consider myself in pretty good shape so I wasn't dying but I know I got a good workout with the number of Fitbit steps I raked up and my Heart Rate (HR) numbers. I also know I will be doing my muscle recovery shake tonight.

As far as adventure goes I wouldn't put it in a top 10 list but just trying new things can be an adventure itself. On a side note the gym that hosted it Best Fitness in Nashua looks amazing and the room was huge which is a giant plus when doing these types of classes. 

My schedule got a little mixed up this week so I am still working on scheduling my next adventure. Stay tuned!

New Year Fitness Adventure - Stop One: TRX

Part of my four part New Year Resolution this year (what can I say I am an over achiever) is to add a little more Mojo into my life. You know adventure, travel outside my comfort zone, just do new things so I can be inspired. What better way to do this then to follow a passion of mine, a fitness adventure! Over the next 7 weeks I will be trying out some workouts that I have been wanting to do or that friends have been raving about. So grab your water bottle and come along!

First stop is something called TRX Suspension training. I have to admit I had no idea what this was and had to google it when my friend Michelle mentioned straps. Looked a little intimidating but you never know until you try something right??????

We traveled over to the place she has been going called Underground Cycling in Hudson, I signed the death waiver and then met the super friendly and super buff instructor and owner.  You do have to sign up a head of time here because the small room only had 10-12 suspension hooks. We got setup, went over some basics of changing around the strap based on the exercises we were going to do and then got started with a warm-up.

The interesting thing about this exercise is I felt like the rep times were super short but you were working REALLY HARD that whole time. Each exercise had you doing strength moves that requires balance and core work too. It was a whole body workout as we started with back, biceps, triceps and chest, moved down to the floor for legs and then ended with core including planks. At the end I wasn't sweaty but my muscles felt the workout. It is day 3 now and I am still feeling the burn.

I would like to try this again combining it with cardio to balance it out. Have you tried TRX? Love or Hate it?

Next up on the Adventure is Body Combat. I really hope I get to take someone out : )