If you ski, you know that it feels like you're flying down those hills. But how fast are you really going? Twenty miles an hour? 40? 50 or 60 ... thousand miles per hour?

Now, I know there's a lot of gear involved in skiing, but if you're a speed demon, you should probably add the Silva S1 Speedometer to your list of necessities. Designed just for Nordic and alpine skiers and snowboarders, it measures ground speed as well as distance traveled.

"Utilizing advanced radar technology, the speedometer calculates your speed and distance and wirelessly transmits all the information to the versatile receiver which can be worn via a carabiner, wrist band, or lanyard." And that's not all.

Brr, it's cold outside! At least where I live, anyway. For me, this means a temporary halt on my daily walks and runs. Despite having grown up in Canada, I just can't stand the cold. Although I will sometimes put my feelings aside for a mountain of fresh powder on the ski hill ...

What about you? Last week, I asked you what your favourite winter outdoor sport is -- here's what you had to say:

• 27 percent of you choose to enjoy winter curled up by the fire with a warm drink. I'm with you.
  
• 23 percent of you love skiing and/or snowboarding.
• 11 percent of you get fit by cross-country skiing.
  
• 7 percent of you have fun ice skating.
• And 23 percent of you don't even live in a place where it snows.
  
  

Thanks for sharing!

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

A few days ago, I asked you if you brave the cold weather to exercise outdoors. Many of you do, so today, I'm wondering how you exercise outdoors.

The snow is flying outside my window right now. It's beautiful, but I know I'm going to have quite a bit of shoveling to do soon. Though shoveling snow shouldn't replace your regular workout, it certainly does offer fitness benefits. Like any other physical activity, you need to be smart and careful when shoveling snow.

• Warm up for a few minutes before heading outside to shovel snow. Walk in place for five to 10 minutes in your living room or climb up and down the stairs a few times.
• Stretch after your warm-up. Be sure to do some flexibility exercises that safely stretch your back, such as lying on your back and bringing your knees up to your chest. Also do some arm and leg stretches.
  
• Dress in layers so you can peel off your outer layers if you start to get overheated.
• Use proper equipment. Some snow shovels are designed for pushing light snow and others are designed for scooping and lifting heavier snow. Make sure you've got the right tool for the job.
  
• Use your legs. If the snow is too heavy to just push to the side, use your legs. Throw the snow in a forward motion -- don't twist and throw it over your shoulder or to the side.

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My son recently read a story at school about Snowflake Bentley. He was one of the first to study, observe, and photograph snowflakes. I'm sure people at the time thought it was a bit odd... after all, it's just snow. But today's scientists wouldn't scoff. Today's scientists are busy studying what's at the center of snowflakes. Are the snowflakes falling outside my window this morning pure crystallized bits of ice? Lacy, white, and beautiful? Or are are they harbingers of bacteria called Pseudomonas? Often, when snow forms the moisture has to find something to cling to -- soot, dust, and sometimes bacteria. In some samples, researchers have found as much as 85% of the nuclei in snow to be bacteria.

But, not to worry, this isn't a bacteria that can make you ill. Pseudomonas can harm certain plants, such as tomatoes and beans. Researchers are continuing to study the finding to see what impact this bacteria can have. Is it harmful in any way? Or can this knowledge actually be beneficial -- for example, could planting crops affected by Pseudomonas positively encourage more rain and snow to the area?

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I like to consider myself a pretty independent, self-sufficient modern girl who defies traditional gender roles. But I can't deny that in my house, there are certain chores that I always leave for Jon, like the snow shovelling. But Jon's been working out of town for the last two months, which is just enough time for me to be the sole shoveller for a few dumps of the white stuff.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm always a little sore and exhausted after shovelling snow. And no wonder -- it burns a significant amount of calories -- over 300 a hour, to be exact. Obviously, it's not as good a workout as, say, running for an hour, but it's better than nothing.

So next time the snow flies, do yourself and your community a favour by shovelling the snow. Feeling extra energetic? Build up good karma by shovelling your neighbour's walk as well.

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Even though I grew up in New England, I've never really been into winter sports. The few times I've tries skiing, I ended up with more snow on my face than what was left on the mountain. Snowboarding wasn't any better. An athlete all through my life, I suddenly turned into an uncoordinated mess once I hit the slopes. Aches and pains aside, I was at least able to burn some serious calories.

An hour of skiing generally burns around 380 calories per hour, while snowboarding burns about 400. Your legs and core muscle also get a great workout, which is why the hot tub back at the lodge is always a site for sore eyes (and backs) at the end of the day.

For more skilled skiers and snowboarders, spending an entire day on the mountain can be done almost effortlessly (at least I've heard as much). Nothing beats getting in a fantastic workout while doing something that you love.

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Winter is here as some of those in the Midwest and Great Plains easily know. Although winter sports can be fun, do you take all the precautions you need to ensure safety is at the top of the fun list?

As in: don't stay out too long, protect yourself from the elements and make sure protective gear is used for those winter snowboards and other items like sleds and toboggans.

Accidents, after all, can occur very fast and can turn those winter activities into complete nightmares in an instant. Just like bike riding and water skiing in the summer, you want to make sure you take care when having that cold winter fun. After all, it's better to enjoy the white stuff outside rather than from inside a window with a broken leg.

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Is it going to be a white Christmas where you are? The forecast where I'm going is calling for snow, which should be pretty but not so great for driving. Or shovelling.

Speaking of shovelling, it's a source of many an injury in the winter. But it doesn't have to be -- follow these tips from the Weather Channel for safe shovelling:

• Use a small shovel, and make sure it isn't bent or damaged
• Drink fluids before shovelling
• Take frequent break and go inside if you're feeling overheated
• Stop any time you feel any pain
• Don't try to fling snow long distances

As with most things, people who are out of shape are more likely to be injured, so taking up an activity can't hurt either!

(via Fitsugar)

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Brrrr Fitz! I live in the waaaaaay cold and am already starting to feel the flab. It's too cold outside to go for runs like I normally do. I can't afford the gym and don't want to look like the snowman on my lawn. What do you suggest? Rick

A. Eeeek Rick! I can't imagine. Literally. I can't imagine, because I've lived in Florida all of my life. It's about 80 degrees outside right now. I have been in the cold and snow though, Norway seems to have a lot, and I do have some recommendations. First, there are a ton of things you can do at home. Sometimes it is just too hot to train outside where I am, so I end up in the same situation you're in now (but opposite).

A treadmill would suit your running needs, but if that investment is too much...here are some ideas. Move the furniture and--jump rope, run in place, do jumping jacks, jump on a mini-trampoline, hit a heavy-bag, dance, do step aerobics, squat jumps, video training, gliding disks, free weights, pull-ups, push-ups, squats, or crunches.

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The weather report is calling for a solid dumping of snow later today, so I'm gearing up for the possibility of being snowed in this evening. Schools and businesses have already been closed in anticipation for the horrendous weather, making me wonder if my gym will also follow suit.

The good news is that there are always ways to get some exercise in, and good, old fashion manual labor is certainly one of them. Shoveling snow for an hour will burn 400 calories, which is far more than the same amount of time spent on walking on a treadmill would. Just be careful to lift the snow-filled shovel mostly with your legs and torso, and to also turn your body to dump the snow instead of trying to throw it over your shoulder. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself and extend your time away from the gym even further.

Once you're finally done outside, shoveling out your driveway and cleaning off your car, you can always head back in and follow any of these simple ways to burn 100 calories from inside your house.

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When the temperatures drop below freezing, it's hard not to get into a winter funk, especially when it comes to exercise. I'm a big walker when it's nice out, so my efforts take a big hit when it's too cold to go outside. Here are some tips from eDiets:

• Plan a getaway to somewhere warm. You'll be able to spend your vacation swimming, hiking and doing other active things, and you'll come back to the cold feeling refreshed and recharged. Plus, the lead-up to the vacation may involve some gym visits to get you in bathing-suit shape.
• Hire a personal trainer. Plan to see a fitness professional for the winter season -- that way, you have a structured program that you'll be motivated to follow.
  
• Find a workout buddy. Then you're accountable to someone when it comes to working out.
  
• Join a fitness club, such as a running club, swimming club or even skiing club.
  
• Be realistic. It's okay to gain a bit of weight over the winter, but make sure it's not more than 5 lbs.
  
• Set up a home gym. Take advantage of the boxing day sales and get a set of weights or a cardio machine for your home.
  
• Wake up early. Peeling yourself out of bed in the morning to workout will make every day a bit better for you.
  
• Commit to 10 minutes a day. That's it. Anyone can do 10 minutes a day, right?

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Something very depressing happened here today. It's really hard for me to say, so I have to just blurt it out. It ... snowed in my hometown. Yes, today, September 19th. It's not even officially fall yet! Granted, we've had a cool summer and it was more like white rain in that it didn't stick around and temperature didn't drop too much but still. Gone are my lazy summer evening walks, the chance to ride my bike while doing my errands. It's pretty depressing living in place that has such long winters.

So I decided to look into winter workouts, even though the forecast is looking a bit better for the next while (can't be too prepared, huh?) iVillage has some great tips for layering for your winter run, and Chatelaine has some tips for trying some winter sports you might not have thought about before. Also, did you know that you burn more calories in the winter because your body has to work harder to keep you warm?

Have you started thinking about what you're going to be doing to keep fit this winter?

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Tis the season of limited outdoor activities. Not so much where I live (we're having a much warmer than average winter here in the Midwest) but generally speaking winter is the worst time of year for outdoor fitness and sports. Jogging and walking can get waylaid by snow and ice, and skiing definitely isn't for everybody. But snowshoeing might be.

Snowshoeing offers a low-impact total body workout that gets you outdoors, gives you an awesome energy burn (600 cals/hour), and best of all -- it's fun! Today's snowshoes are lighter and more comfortable than they used to be, and it's so easy anybody can do it.

See this video clip from CNN.com to learn more, and even get some beginner pointers.

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Skiing is a great way to enjoy the winter weather, a great way to socialize with friends, and a great way to burn calories. But, with the downhill version especially, it is also not something that you can just run out and do some weekend without any advance planning.

Skiing requires a lot more equipment than some other sports, like running or yoga. And you'll need to take a serious look at investing in a few lessons -- just to make sure you're safely able to stop and don't go careening down the hill like in some movie (only potentially without the happy ending). The author of this article also relates skiing to sprinting, in that the calorie burn is short-lived compared to the total time spent. It's probably best as a supplement to an already solid fitness routine, as opposed to your sole means of exercise.

Other pros? Skiing is a fast sport to learn (the basics at least), and you don't have to be a ripped fitness buff to enjoy it.

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