Keeping off that winter apartment weight gain

It’s that time of year again – the days are getting shorter and we have less time to be active and outside after a long day at school or work. Winter is the hardest time of year for me as an apartment dweller. I really get the urge to just hibernate for the months of November through February, huddling up under a cozy blanket with comfort food (mmm, mac and cheese..) and Sex in the City reruns and hiding out until it gets a little warmer. Of course, I probably will have gained 75 pounds by then, but still ..

This year, I’m not going to do that because my apartment is participating in the Beachbody Campus Challenge, a weight loss incentive program that aims to get us moving right here in our Philadelphia apartment complexes! We don’t even have to leave the building.

This is good because I keep reading all these stories about how being sedentary and eating fatty but delicious food is probably going to kill me someday, and yet I keep right on doing it. The incentive not to is all about life improvement. Less bad food, more good exercise translates into better self-esteem, more opportunities to be active outside my apartment and maybe even a date or two. Just don’t try to ask me out while I’m struggling through a P90X workout. That would just be embarrassing.

If you are lucky, your apartment offers a convenient gym where you can start breaking some of those bad exercise habits while breaking a sweat. Here are a few of my favorite (but simple) workout routines to help get you started:

Pre-set elliptical workouts: If you’re just starting a new cardio program the elliptical trainer can be a great way to go. It minimizes the impact to your joints by eliminating the pounding impact of running and still manages to be a great calorie burner.

Exercise ball sit-ups:  A great way to develop some core strength. If you haven’t done these for awhile you will definitely be feeling the burn in your abs the very next day.

Free weights: There are so many things you can do with free weights that can be tailored to your personal fitness level that you just can’t go wrong. For a great list of suggestions about where to start, check out this blog post where you’ll get tips on the proper technique for each exercise.

What favorite activities keep you busy in your apartment gym?