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Staying Warm During Winter Exercise

Staying Warm During Winter Exercise

January 25, 2022 Lifestyle, Movement

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

Alfred Wainwright

We’ve talked about the many benefits of getting out in the cold. After all, nature isn’t meant to only be enjoyed during 3/4 of the year! Winter exercise has its own special traits – from being peacefully quiet when it’s recently snowed, to the ice on the trees or the blueness of the sky.

Even so, what holds most people back from spending time outdoors in colder (or wetter) temps, is a lack of adequate clothing or accessories.

We hit the slopes every year to ski, so we’re lovers of winter by nature. As a result, we’ve learned a thing or two about keeping warm on the coldest of days, and we want to share those things with you!

If your goal is to get outside more in Winter, here’s what we use to stay warm:

  • Base layer top and bottoms made from Merino wool. We love wool because it’s very effective at keeping you warm, while also remaining breathable, and it’s a natural fiber. We wear our base layers under our normal cold weather tops and pants when the temps are especially chilly. We love Smartwool products for their quality, as well as Minus33, but there are many different options out there you can check out!
  • Athletic apparel made with spandex or Gore-Tex and marketed as intended for cold weather exercise (water repellant is a bonus if you’ll be in the rain or snow!)
  • Merino wool socks – these keep our feet warmer and dryer than polyester or cotton.
  • Mittens keep hands warmer than gloves because the fingers and palm can touch and help maintain body heat. We like to wear mittens when skiing, since warmth is crucial to staying on the slopes all day. For walks and other “lighter” winter activities, we love our Ugg sheepskin gloves.
  • Balaclava or gaiter – A balaclava is like a hood and infinity scarf combined. Typically worn under a ski helmet, it does a good job of keeping your neck from being exposed to the elements, as well as trapping heat from your head. A gaiter is similar, just without the hood part. It’s a loop of warm fabric that you wear around your neck and can also be pulled up over the bottom of your face if needed. These aren’t just great for skiing – they’re great for any outdoor activity on very cold or windy days! Unless you’re wearing a helmet for your activity, you’ll likely prefer the gaiter over the balaclava, paired with a warm winter hat.
  • Speaking of that warm winter hat – a thick hat made with wool, acrylic or fleece and that covers your ears is crucial for maintaining warmth on freezing days.
  • Winter boots rated for temps below zero – we live in our winter boots in the cold months! Brianna’s pair of Merrell Sugarbush boots are no longer in production, but Irene’s Columbia winter boots are and they’re as functional and warm as they are stylish! You can view similar styles as hers on their website. According to this source, you’ll want to look for boots that have 200-400g insulation. Boots with 200g are better for short walks/hikes and playing outside on typical winter days. Boots with closer to 400g of insulation would be ideal for longer winter walks or hikes, especially if you’ll be sitting for periods of time. The nice thing about a pair of boots designed for the winter season is that they will have thicker, more grippy tread, too. This is helpful for walking on the occasionally snowy (or even icy) path!

Now that we’ve covered the adults, let’s talk about some great gear for babies and toddlers. 

For Toddlers:

  • Fleece-lined pants – great for mildly cold days outside and also paired with a base layer for very cold days (it’s better to have a little room in the pants for the base layer, so size up if you need to). I bought these fleece-lined pants from Target and these fleece-lined jeans from Gap for my son this season. I bought him a 3T in both items, but the Gap pants were HUGE and he mostly wears the Target ones right now. We’ll save the Gap ones for next season.
  • Merino wool or wool/acrylic base layer pants and shirt – you’ll likely need to look at ski apparel to find these for toddlers but they’re well worth sourcing for the wonderful warmth they’ll provide your child (and assurance they’ll provide you!). I bought this top and these bottoms for my son this winter. They seem a little thinner than what I was expecting, but they still add a nice layer. These are a great option on sale, but weren’t the right size for him.
  • Waterproof insulated mittens that zip open for easy access. I’ve learned from experience that trying to stuff a 1-year-old’s hand into some mittens can be the end of any great plan to go outside. Mittens that have a zipper down the side allow your child’s hand to easily slip inside with the thumb going in the right place. They’ll make getting ready to go out in the cold much more fun, and much less stressful! We have these ones and they’re great, but these are another nice option!
  • Quality winter coat – Columbia and The North Face make wonderful coats for kids, but you can even find great options at places like Costco.
  • Winter boots tested for very cold temps (will say in product description). Just like adults, look for ones that have 200-400g insulation. If you plan to carry your child on longer walks or hikes, find the higher insulation boots, since they won’t be actively walking or running around. Backcountry has a great selection of boots and we also love Stride Rite, too!
  • Thick Winter hat that fully covers ears (the ones with the long ear flaps that have a chin strap are great!)
  • A balaclava or gaiter can be helpful on especially cold days and are nice because they can’t fall off like a scarf can
  • Wool socks for keeping those little toes warm!
  • Snow bibs / snow pants / snowsuit – we have these from Target as well as some Obermeyer ski pants we bought on sale from 6pm.com. The ski pants are fantastic quality and keep him really warm, but the Target pants do a good job for short play sessions outside, too!

For Baby:

  • Water-repellant, cold weather cover for soft baby carriers – this allows you to keep taking those walks with your little one in the carrier even when it’s cold outside. Just remember, you still need the carrier to sit close on your body, so it’s best to put a winter layer on yourself (i.e. a base layer underneath a warm top), then put on the baby carrier, followed by your coat or jacket left unzipped.
  • A cold weather one-piece – this one and this one are great options for keeping your baby warm outside.
  • Winter car seat cover and/or stroller cover – a car seat cover or stroller cover that’s “insulated” makes winter walks with the stroller easy to do with your little one. This car seat cover makes it possible to keep your baby’s face uncovered while you walk, while still keeping them plenty warm. Buy Buy Baby has lots of car seat and stroller covers to consider, which you can see here.
  • Warm winter shoes – even though your baby may not be walking yet, they’ll still need a little help keeping those tiny toes warm. Stride rite has great baby boots like these and these, Ugg’s classic sheepskin is always high quality and this option from Amazon are also nice and quick to put on.

The price of some high quality Winter gear can shock those who have never shopped for it before. However, the price tag is worth the assurance for keeping you warm and dry, not to mention allowing you to get outside more often! If needed, pick and choose a few priority pieces (like base layers) and then scope out some investment pieces like a great pair of winter boots, mittens. The spring and summer are great times to buy high quality winter apparel on sale, too, so start watching for sales that will benefit you for next season.

Stay active and stay warm!

Irene & Brianna

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Happy April 1st! 😜 If you want to live longer a Happy April 1st! 😜 If you want to live longer and feel great doing it, you might consider doing exactly the opposite of these things. 🙌

#longevity #healthylifestyle #healthtips
Irene has been healing a Dancer’s fracture for t Irene has been healing a Dancer’s fracture for the past couple months (and no, it didn’t happen during one of our dance practices, but yes, it is the reason we’ve been on break from our “Fancy Feet Friday” posts).👯‍♀️

A key part of her healing approach has included taking the Bone & Marrow product from @ancestralsupplements. You already know we love their products (which are whole foods, freeze-dried and served in capsule form). The concept behind why these products help so many people is called “like supports like,” where consuming a specific part of a healthy animal supports the health and healing of that part in your own body. There are some cool studies to support this and our ancestors knew it all along, before we had any of that research. 

The Bone & Marrow product is a regular part of both Irene’s and Brianna’s daily food intake and you might consider adding it to yours, too. Why are bones and marrow so beneficial to health and longevity?

Ancestral Supplements Bone & Marrow contains:
🔹The entire bone matrix (living bone, pure marrow & cartilage)
🔹Platelets and stem cells to support red and white blood cells
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All of these things support:
🔸Healthy blood (red & white blood cell production)
🔸Robust immune health
🔸Decreased inflammation
🔸Strong bones & teeth (dental health)
🔸Skin & joint health
🔸Marrow & cartilage health

Learn more about this wonderful product at the link in our profile bio!

#injuryrecovery #healthylifestyle #nutrition
Feeling especially inspired by today’s ruck part Feeling especially inspired by today’s ruck participants!! Talk about showing up and giving it your all! You are amazing and awesome! We can’t think of a better way to have started our Saturday. Congrats, two-percenters! 🤩

#iamhealthy #healthyhappy #healthywealthy #activelifestyle #iamfit #determination #motivation #inspiration #icandothis #instafit #instafitness #attitudeiseverything #attitude #gratitude #activeliving #foreverfit #fitnessislife #fitspiration #createyourlife #livelifetothefullest #designyourlife #omaha #omahanebraska #optoutside #betterouthere #omaharuckclub #glaruckclub #omahafitness #omahaevents #ruckclub
Join us this Saturday morning for our next ruck! T Join us this Saturday morning for our next ruck! The great thing about our rucks is that anyone can participate at their own level of difficulty. Someone who is very active and fit can carry more weight in their backpack, hold more weight in their hands or up on their shoulders, while someone who is newer to rucking can walk with just a few added pounds in their backpack. Parents can push strollers or use their kids as added weight in a carrier on their back or chest. If you have an elderly parent or disabled friend, you can push them in their wheelchair. There’s almost no situation that can’t be accommodated in some way - you just need the motivation to want to go!

If you would like to join us for our next ruck (it’s free), you can receive the details by email and/or via our private Facebook group. The links for both can be accessed from the link in our profile bio!

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#iamhealthy #healthyhappy #healthywealthy #activelifestyle #iamfit #determination #motivation #inspiration #icandothis #instafit #instafitness #attitudeiseverything #attitude #gratitude #activeliving #foreverfit #fitnessislife #fitspiration #createyourlife #livelifetothefullest #designyourlife #omaha #omahanebraska #optoutside #betterouthere #omaharuckclub #glaruckclub #omahafitness #omahaevents #ruckclub
Science is proving that when the heart and brain a Science is proving that when the heart and brain are in coherence, they operate synergistically and more efficiently. This coherence brings about major changes in our emotional states, our bodily health, and cognitive function. 

When we feel negative emotions such as anger, resentment, anxiety, and frustration, we create disordered heart variability and stress in our body and mind. We feel scattered and pulled because our thoughts and feelings are working against each other and creating disorder in our bodies. By focusing on positive emotions, such as love, joy, abundance and appreciation, we can turn down the stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response, and generate a harmonious and highly-ordered pattern in our heart’s rhythm. 

The heart and brain communicate in both directions. When the heart and brain are in coherence, we not only decrease stress, we increase creativity, calmness, greater focus, improved decision-making, and we bring about a sense of peace within ourselves and a deeper connection to those around us. 

As if that’s not already enough, it also strengthens our immune system, balances our hormonal function, improves sleep quality and increases physical energy. 

Take a few minutes to do this little exercise today and feel the difference it can make for you. 

#mindset #motivationmonday #mondaymotivation #gratitude #lawofattraction #getbetter #personaldevelopment #healthcoach
Some fun surprise weather on our walk today! #snow Some fun surprise weather on our walk today! #snowshowers #snow #walk #outdoors #dogwalk
“Some people have all the luck…”🍀 We don “Some people have all the luck…”🍀

We don’t believe in luck. We believe in making your goals and dreams come true through open-mindedness, vulnerability, optimism, determination, commitment, perseverance and tenacity. Not relying on luck. 

We believe that your starting point does not determine your destination. YOU determine your destination. 

If you don’t like some aspect of your life, then decide what you want it to look like instead and start taking action towards that!

Your mind is always scanning for opportunities. If you know what you want and you’re determined to get there, you better believe opportunities will “suddenly” arise to help you meet your goal.

Others watching from the outside will say it was luck, but you will know it was anything but.

To add an example with a touch of humor, if you’ve ever seen our favorite movie, Dumb & Dumber, then you’re familiar with the scene at the end. Harry and Lloyd get stopped by a Hawaiian Tropic tour bus and several bikini models get out to tell them they're looking for two guys to travel around with them on tour and help them get ready for shows. Harry and Lloyd respond by telling them there's a town just a few miles down the road that's bound to have guys for the roles they're looking for. Lloyd says, "Wow two lucky guys are going to be driving around with those girls for the next couple of months." Then Harry replies, "Yeah. Don't worry. We'll catch our break too. Just gotta keep our eyes open." 😜

To sum it all up, we leave you with two quotes that further support our perspective on luck:

"Shallow men believe in luck. 
Strong men believe in cause and effect." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.” - Brian Tracy

Create your own luck today. Be the cause to your effect. Get real with yourself. Set your sights on something. Take a chance. Be the victor who knows you have the power to change your life, not the victim who thinks others have all the luck.

#mindset #longevity #health #comfortzone #goals #goalgetter #healthylifestyle #healthcoach #attitude #motivation
Here’s part 2 to our previous video. Are you agi Here’s part 2 to our previous video. Are you aging yourself? 

#mindset #aging #longevity #attitude #healthylifestyle
You have more influence than you think when it com You have more influence than you think when it comes to aging well. 😉 The whole video doesn’t fit in the reels time limit, so check out our post after this for part 2!

#mindset #aging #longevity #attitude #healthylifestyle
How many more reasons do you need before you’ll How many more reasons do you need before you’ll make the jump and join our ruck club? 😉

Our next group ruck is Saturday, March 25th at 9:30am. It’s going to be an awesome time! 🤩

All ages and abilities can participate. The level of difficulty is determined by how much added weight you carry in your backpack. Some of our members don’t carry any added weight because the ruck is already difficult enough. Some members push their kids in the stroller AND wear a weighted backpack. It’s your opportunity to challenge yourself and we will support you the entire way!

If you’ve been watching and wondering, it’s time to say YES to you by joining us! 💪

If you’re in the Omaha area and would like to participate (it’s free), you can receive the details by email and/or via our private Facebook group. The links for both can be accessed from the link in our profile bio!

#ruckclub #omaha #omahanebraska #omahafitness #outdoorfun #getoutside
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“Just do 5 minutes!” - it’s one of our philo “Just do 5 minutes!” - it’s one of our philosophies for exercise as well as many other things that we sometimes don’t have a large block of time to do.

You may not feel like you have 30 minutes for a dedicated workout, but we bet you can find 5 minutes to do something. When you practice the “just do 5 minutes” approach, typically you’ll find that two possible results are achieved:

1. You really do just 5 minutes, which is great because it’s still getting your body moving and it’s much better than doing nothing!
2. You end up doing a little more (or sometimes even a lot more) than 5 minutes because you feel good and motivated once you start and you decide you have time to go a little longer than planned!

Both are great outcomes!

When you find pockets of time to do a couple or a few sets of 5-minute bursts, you end up multiplying your benefits even more! You may find it easier to find 2-3 different opportunities to do 5 minutes, than finding a single 10-15 minute block of time.

#wellnesswednesday #wellnesscoach #wellnesstips #healthtips #mindset #exercisemotivation #fitnessmotivation
It’s not “cause and effect”, it’s cause an It’s not “cause and effect”, it’s cause an effect. Be the CAUSE to make the effect! Make it happen. 🙌

#mondaymotivation #motivationmonday
Remember to always add some fun to your workouts 😂

#fitnessfriday #fridayfitness #fitnessfun #homeworkout #workout #fitness #toddler #toddlerlife
No, we don’t always feel motivated to go outside No, we don’t always feel motivated to go outside at sunrise in the winter, but we do it anyways because we know it:
- Supports our circadian rhythms and proper functioning of many other processes in our bodies through morning sunlight in the eyes 
- Exposes us to the benefits of cold temps and getting out of our comfort zones
- Clears our minds and gets us centered for your day by being outdoors in nature

And P.S., we also don’t care what our neighbors think about our morning sunlight ritual 😜

#healthyhabits #healthtips #healthylifestyle #healthjourney #healthcoach #wellnessjourney #wellnesscoach #mindset #motivation #getoutside #getoutdoors #betteroutside
Our go-to tortilla chips! Made with non-GMO corn a Our go-to tortilla chips! Made with non-GMO corn and cooked in coconut oil instead of inflammatory seed oils. We’re the weirdos in the grocery store aisle looking at each @gilly_loco bag for the puffiest and saltiest chips. 😅 If you don’t have a Whole Foods near you, you can order these directly from the brand on their website!

#healthyfood #cleanfood #healthtips #healthylifestyle #foodie #healthcoach #wellnessjourney #betterfood
Want to improve your balance? Here are a few simpl Want to improve your balance? Here are a few simple ideas that you can do anytime, anywhere. Not only do they improve your balance when practiced consistently and regularly, they also strength your feet, ankles, knees and all the way up to the hips. 

#exercisetips #healthtips #personaltrainer #healthcoach #motivationmonday #mondaymotivation #longevity #aginggracefully #agingbackwards #fitnessmotivation #fitnessgirl
When you notice your avocados are ripe but don’t When you notice your avocados are ripe but don’t have any plans to eat them, don’t let them go to waste - freeze them! Just scoop the flesh out onto some parchment paper on a flat surface, freeze and then transfer the fruit to a bag or container for storage. Avocado halves only take about 20-30 min to thaw. Frozen avocado is also a great addition to a smoothie - adds creaminess, but no weird flavor! We especially like to stock up on avocados when they’re on sale and then freeze them.

#cookingtips #kitchenhacks #mealprep #healthyeating #healthyfood #keto #ketomeals #ketodiet #carnivorediet #carnivoreketo #carnivorelife #paleodiet #paleorecipes #momhack #parentingtips
You’ve heard us talk about rucking for a while n You’ve heard us talk about rucking for a while now. There are so many health benefits to walking with added weight (increased bone density, stronger muscles, more calories burned, etc.). If you have a small child or grandchild, let them be your ruck! Strollers provide some nice weighted resistance, but they don’t compare to the full body effort required for rucking. Carrying your child also means you can get out in all seasons more easily. Taking a stroller across an uncleared snowy path is no “walk in the park”!

#rucking #outdoorworkout #grandma #grandpa #parentingtips #momlife #dadlife #fitmama #wellnesswednesday #fitspo
You can only love others to the degree with which You can only love others to the degree with which you love yourself. This isn't ego love, or arrogance - that is not love. This is about truly loving yourself, respecting yourself, and honoring your self. Knowing your value and that you are worthy. You do this by becoming physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. That is the highest form of personal development. It takes commitment, perseverance, tenacity, a focused mindset, and putting in the effort even when you don't feel like doing it. That's how you build self-esteem, confidence, and inner strength. It's a process, and it's an ongoing one. It's in the journey along the way where the growth occurs. Love yourself enough that you become your most idealized self. Then go out and share that love with everyone else in the world. Everyone will benefit. Happy Valentine's Day. From our hearts to yours, we love you! 

#valentine #valentineday #love #gratitude
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