Going Inside to Workout During the Cold Winter Months

The winter is, frankly, a time when people with less than absolute dedication to exercising regularly can lose focus and stop their routine. Throughout much of the United States, the winter months are marked by cold temperatures, rain and, in many areas of the country, snow and sleet. While the extremely dedicated slog through such weather to keep fit, others do not need much of an excuse to bag their workout in favor of watching television or surfing the Web. Taking your workout inside, however, is a good way to get over the hump in the winter and to stay in shape.

Of course, the winter is also a time when people tend to eat more and the festivities surrounding the holidays typically help to pack on a few pounds. For now, however, the focus is on staying on schedule for exercise, and here are three popular indoor exercise machines that can help you stay fit.

Treadmill

The nice thing about a treadmill workout is that it is very easy to adjust to your exact level of conditioning, and then to make changes as you become more fit. For those who want to walk to work out, a treadmill will accommodate them. Runners can set the treadmill to go as fast as they like, and any good treadmill will actually go faster than any runner can run for an extended period of time, meaning that a treadmill spans the gamut.

While the treadmill doesn't offer quite as good of a workout as actually walking or running outside (or inside, on a track), the difference is fairly minimal and the treadmill can actually be a better choice year-round for those who like to walk or run but have problems with their knees. Most treadmills have a setting for the "hardness" of the track, meaning that you can adjust the spring on the track itself to range from "soft" to "hard."

One problem with using a treadmill to work out, however, is that it can be very boring to continuously walk or run but to not go anywhere. This is actually a problem common to pretty much all indoor workouts, however, so adding some music or even television can make a treadmill workout more tolerable.

Elliptical Trainer

Elliptical trainers took off in popularity in recent years because of their low-impact nature. For those with bad joints, the elliptical trainer offers even less impact on the knees, hips, ankles and back than the treadmill and the stair climber, while still delivering a great workout.

The motion of an elliptical machine is a bit tough for some to grow accustomed to, but a few workouts on such a machine and even those new to the equipment will have it down. The interesting thing about an elliptical is that, unlike the treadmill and stair climber, there is no real equivalent motion to an elliptical. It does not mimic walking upstairs, as the stair climber does, or walking or running, as the treadmill does. As a result, it can tend to work out some muscles you may not know you had! As with the treadmill, add music or television to your indoor workout to avoid boredom.

Stair Climber

Stair climbers can offer a variety of workouts that can range from highly intense to those more appropriate for those beginning their exercise routine. A stair climber also offers a lower level of impact than a treadmill (though they are not as low-impact as an elliptical). For those who like the action of climbing stairs to get a workout, but do not have a viable option within their house, a stair climber closely mimics walking upstairs. At slower levels, one can also read a book while working out on the stair climber, but for those with more intense workouts, the standard music or TV is the way to beat boredom.