That's Fit

For most of us, this week between Christmas and New Year's is simply a continuation of the joyous laziness that makes Christmas one of our favourite holidays. We know in our heart of hearts that we have to stop eating shortbread at every meal, but we're waiting for January 1st to get started. Sound familiar?

Take a lesson from Katie Price, aka Jordan, aka Katie Andre. The Katie And Peter star is working on her fitness resolutions before January 1st. She was recently spotted running near her home in Sussex, England, despite the miserably-cold weather outside.

Besides running, Katie's also into horseback riding. Consider this: Two hours of horseback riding can burn around 800 calories. Maybe you should add that to your list of resolutions.

Are you looking for outdoor activities to enjoy this spring and summer that have an added benefit of exercise? You're not alone -- many of us love the outdoors and would like to involve ourselves in activities that we enjoy while getting that good dose of exercise.

Those treadmills workouts from the wintertime may be going by the wayside for the next five months or so, but what can replace them? Try these on for size:

• White-water rafting
• Hiking
• Biking
• Swing away
• Golfing
• Tennis
• Horseback riding
• Team sports
• Jogging
• Volleyball
• Gardening

Do those sound fun? They are! And, you'll be burning calories at the same time.

My main fitness activity is walking or jogging, and sometimes I get a little bored with it. Usually that means it's just time to refresh my mp3 playlist or choose a new route, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a little more. Though the key to a consistent exercise routine is choosing an activity you love that fits into your lifestyle, there's nothing wrong with changing it up on a regular basis. By varying your routine, you keep your body and your mind sharp and keep the workout doldrums away.

Here's a list of some ideas for you to shake things up and try something new. There are some classics here, like horseback riding, rowing, tennis, and boxing. There are also some innovative workouts like adult gymnastics (sounds fun!), adult ballet, meridian flexibility, gyrotonics, and working out with kettleballs.

Not every fitness activity has to happen in a gym. Living a more active life in general, and in addition to your workout routine, will help you burn calories, increase muscle strength, and improve your heart health. Be creative this spring and put some spice back into your workout!