My Favorite Winter Workouts

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.

Every winter when those cold temps hit Chicago, I take my workouts inside. For these winter months, I trade in my neighborhood stroller route and trail runs for indoor workouts. Although I do have a treadmill and use it pretty regularly, I often reach for a variety of workouts so I get in some strength/agility training, which I’ve found really helps me when it comes time to get back outside to run again…particularly come the start of race season for me in early spring. Here’s a round up of some of my favorite winter workouts that help me keep things interesting from the confines of my basement:

• 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme DVDs
  After doing T25 workouts after having Bryce, I was ready for a new set of workouts. The 21 Day Fix workouts are all about 30 minutes, which I love. Just grab some weights and a mat, and I’m good to go! I like that there are several workouts in the set so it keeps things fresh instead of the same workout over and over again.

 

• Jillian Michaels DVDs
  When I want to mix it up, I recently reached for my old Jillian Michaels DVDs. It was nice to challenge my body in different ways, and personally, I love DVDs where all I have to do is follow along with the moves. Some of my favorites? Ripped in 30, Banish Fat & Boost Metabolism, and Shred It with Weights (a kettle bell workout).

 

• Treadmill workouts from Iowa Girl Eats
  I started using these several years ago and they make the time on the treadmill go by much faster than keeping a steady pace. Plus, they really helped me build my endurance and work on my speed!
• Circuit workouts I’ve collected from Pinterest (see my board here)
  From Tabata to pyramid workouts and more, there are a lot of great workouts that just involve your own body weight or a pair of dumbbells and a mat. I’ve tried the Bikini Body Guide sample workouts, and they are killer!
• Class Fit Sugar by PopSugar Fitness
  A nice collection of full workout videos that you can access right from Facebook.
• Group exercise classes
  Whether it’s barre class (my favorite), Zumba (I have a punch card to a local park district I need to use up!) or yoga, I always enjoy getting out from time to time to take a class with friends.
• What I’d love to try:
  • Beachbody on Demand: online access to literally every Beachbody workout. I love that they have several options that are 30 minutes or less. Perfect for me to get in a good sweat, and perfect for a toddler’s attention span :-)
  • Pelotone spin bike: It’s a spin bike where you can take live or on-demand classes right from home. I love the group exercise component and am competitive, so something like this sounds SO amazing. What’s not amazing? The price tag. Saving up for this one!

After wrapping up races and outdoor running for 2017, I was in need of a new pair of shoes. Lately, I’ve been wearing the Mizuno Wave Rider 21 shoes for all my workouts, and they are LOVELY. These are neutral shoes that are perfect for someone new to running or getting back into it after a break and are for everyone from an experienced marathoner to a beginner runner. This version has redesigned Wave technology for softer cushioning, and an enhanced responsive feel and special engineered mesh for breathability, movement, and hold when it is needed while running.

I love the gray color option and have been really pleased with them so far. There was literally no break in period at all, and they are so cushiony (if that’s a word?) and supportive, fitting my feet incredibly well. The sizing on these runs true (I always size up a half size on my shoes). After being a loyal Saucony user for several years, I may officially be converted to Mizuno now. I can’t wait to hit the pavement with these come spring!

What are your favorite ways to workout in the winter? Tell me in the comments- I’m always looking for ideas!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Style Files possible! Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.