There are hundreds of wonderful sites on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. Here at Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.
Get pumped with holiday spirit! Almost every city in the U.S. hosts a holiday-themed run during these next few weeks. Well + Good has a roundup of the country's 11 most exciting seasonal fun runs. Ranging from two miles to half marathons, there's a fit way to celebrate for everyone!
Looking for a workout you can do anywhere? The mountain climber is a great way to get in shape -- no equipment necessary. POPSUGAR Fitness breaks down this full-body move so you'll know how to master it.
In-studio barre workouts can do a number on your wallet. Thankfully, SparkPeople has the scoop on five barre moves you can do at home.
What does the fitness fanatic on your shopping list really want this season? Fit Bottomed Girls created a list of eight fit gifts to give, from a folding bike to swoon-worthy sports bras.
Looking for more ways to stay fit this winter? Check out these cold-weather workouts:
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9. Curling
265 calories per hour
Like shuffleboard on ice, this game is more pastime than sport. And while it's associated with older athletes thanks to its low intensity and easy pace, occasional low impact activity can benefit everyone.
8. Ice Fishing
273 calories per hour*
Ice fishing might seem like little else than waiting around and occasionally taking a nip of whiskey for warmth, but actually, it involves a great deal of movement -- from building a fire to setting up the lines. And as anyone who has gotten a nibble on their lure knows, reeling in a fish big enough for dinner requires a great deal of arm and core strength. What's more, out in the cold, the body has to work over time to maintain it's internal temperature -- another calorie buster.
*This estimate is actually for general fishing, so it should be considered rough.
7. Sledding
362 calories per hour
Sledding is a great way to combine family bonding time with a bit of exercise. While flying down a hillside isn't going to be a major calorie buster, trekking back up that same slope will work your glutes just as hard as any set of squats. But time on the sled isn't a total waste: all that steering and balancing is helping to work your core muscles.
6. Ice Skating
460 calories per hour
Balance, balance, balance. Just like ballet exercises en pointe, the precarious perch from a single-blade skate will help you work all the small-group muscles that keep you upright. Get ready for a lower-body focused cardio work out and some dance-style strength training.
5. Snowboarding
485 calories per hour
Long associated with slackers, snowboarding is actually quite a major effort: the necessary balance to navigate a board down an advanced course -- or even a beginner's hill -- requires exceptional core strength and power. And it pays off, with a major calorie burn.
4. Ice Hockey
545 calories per hour
Ice hockey's cadence and pace is fast-paced, making the sport a major cardio workout. But balance is as important to lumbering hockey players as it is to lithe figure skaters. And maintaining total muscle control also provides a great strength-training workout. The combination makes the sport a calorie incinerator -- and that's even before factoring in calories burned from fighting.
3. Ice Climbing
545 calories per hour
For the most intrepid only, ice climbing compares to rock climbing in its unparalleled development of a strong upper body, including arms, shoulders and back.
2. Cross-Country Skiing
572 calories per hour
About as close as you can get to stopping and smelling the flowers during snowy winter months, a trek on cross-country skis can bring you into the silence and peace of nature at your own pace. And while you're busy listening for the creaky sound of deciduous trees shedding ice, you'll be burning more than enough calories to earn that cup of cocoa upon your return home. It's hard to find another exercise that is at once calming and a hardcore workout.
1. Snowshoeing
650-700 calories per hour
Snowshoeing is often overlooked in favor of more common snowy sports, like skiing and snowboarding. But there is no better way to trek through a wintry wonderland than on these webbed shoes, which help their users stay atop deep snow banks by distributing weight over a wider surface area.
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