| Chelci Bruno glides through the water at the Desert Wave indoor pool. Swimming is an excellent form of low-impact winter exercise as well as being very effective for toning the body. |
As the warmth of summer disappears, so does the motivation to remain physically active.
With winter comes the loss of walking comfortably in sunny weather and the enjoyment of rigorous outdoor activities. Shorts and tank-tops are traded in for bulky layers and a frostbitten nose.
However, researchers are continually proving that exercise, even in moderate amounts, is crucial to prolonging mobility in later years, maintaining a healthy weight, fighting heart disease and strengthening the efficiency of the whole physical system.
Physical activity does not have to consume an entire day or be extremely intense to be effective, either.
In a recent study conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 201 overweight but healthy women ages 21-45 were randomly assigned one of four physical activity programs, ranging from moderate to intense. Some participants were instructed to exercise for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours per week while the rest performed in a longer, 3 1/2 to 5 hours-per-week range.
The exercise consisted mostly of brisk walking. The women were also all placed on the same reduced-calorie food plan.
When the women were tested at the end of the study, all four groups had lost parallel amounts of weight (13-20 pounds) and the fitness improvement of each participant was very similar.
So, while letting the exercise routine hibernate for the winter is not going to cut it, there is still good news; Carbon County has a surprisingly large amount of options when it comes to moving exercise indoors.
CEU is making major updates to their facility, the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center, in time to accommodate the winter months.
Due to the efforts of Senator Dmitrich, the school was able to raise over $45,000, which was used to purchase an elliptical machine, three new treadmills and a circuit of 12 Paramount weight machines. The equipment is scheduled to arrive before the end of November.
In addition to the new equipment, BDAC membership has always offered access to five racquetball courts, the basketball gym (when it is not being used for school activities), and two exercise rooms with free weights, stack machines and cardio equipment.
The BDAC has also begun to offer patrons personalized fitness programs for a small fee.
Brent Martindale, a certified Physiologist and personal trainer, is heading CEU’s effort to make the athletic center more efficient and professional.
As part of the service, Martindale will conduct an interview and goal setting session, design a personalized workout program, and do an equipment walk-thru to familiarize each party with the various machinery.
The personal workout program will also include one free program update.
Martindale said that he hopes the program will raise people’s level exercise awareness, help them realize that exercise can be fun and make them independent enough to maintain their own exercise program.
“We are one of the few businesses that doesn’t want people to come back,” he commented. “We want to educate people so they can do it on their own.”
According to Martindale, a successful exercise program should include moderate resistance training.
“One of the stereotypes of the last twenty years is that the old and young shouldn’t lift weights. But, research has shown that as long as lifting is moderate and is done from good positions, anyone can benefit,” he asserted.
Martindale also dismissed the old assumption that strength training results in bulky muscles.
“A lot of people believe you’re going to bulk out, which is absolutely not true,” he stated. “Resistance and walking will end up being one of the big factors to improve and heal our crumbling health care system.”
For more information on the BDAC and personalized fitness programs, contact the BDAC front desk at 613-5371.
As part of the school curriculum, CEU offers several physical education courses, too. Classes such as weight training, jogging cross country, yoga, body conditioning and a variety of fundamental sport courses are a great way to have routine activity in the winter.
CEU is not the only exercise center in Carbon County, though. Residents can also get memberships at the local gym, Eddies.
Eddie’s Gym has treadmills, ellipticals and bikes as well as a variety of weight machines, free weights and ab exercise equipment. For more information, call 613-0609
The Desert Wave Pool is another great venue for staying fit through the winter. Desert Wave offers hydro-aerobic and swim classes, lap swim and open swim.
In addition, each night of the week has a specialty discount for open swim. For more information and hours, call 637-7946.
For those who must be outdoors even if it is freezing cold, outdoor exercise can be enjoyable and beneficial if the correct safety measures are taken and the weather isn’t too extreme.
Edward Laskowski, M.S., the co-director of Sports Medicine at the Mayo clinic, recommends wearing plenty of layers.
He advises wearing a synthetic or microfiber as a first layer to keep sweat away from the body. As a second, insulation layer, Laskowski suggests a fleece or like material that dries well and has a front zipper.
If a third layer is needed, a heavy-duty coat which is windproof and waterproof works well.
According to Laskowski, the feet, the hands, the head and the neck are especially in need of being properly covered. Wool or polypropylene socks for feet and warm gloves for hands are a must.
The head is a major source of heat loss, so wearing a scarf and cap to keep the neck and head from being overexposed will make for a more enjoyable and safer experience.
So, with all the winter options in Carbon County, there is no excuse for putting exercise in the closet for the duration of the colder months. Keeping exercise as a priority now will make for a happier and heathier spring.