Heat Up Your Workout, as the Weather Cools!!!

Anyone else dread the drop in temperature that comes with Winter? I love taking my boys for a long walk into town, to the library, the post office, the park, or even to my older son's school. It was so nice, but now as it cools I fear I'll lose my motivation to exercise and be active, so it's imperative to find something I enjoy so it won't be work. You should too! I wanted to put together a post on how to select the right shoe and the right activity for you! 

If you are intimidated by standard gyms full of machines, that's ok, there are many other options. There are at home videos - kick boxing, yoga, P90X. There are gyms that cater to a particular interest like Ninja gyms that provide a workout you'd see on the TV show: American Ninja Warriors (yes, they do exist). Or if you love to dance, there are dance classes or dance groups (square dancing, line dancing, ball room dancing etc). Or I've even seen some moms strap on their little ones and vigorously clean the house and that's a workout in and of itself. You just have to find what works best for you!

Now, onto footwear. Obviously if you want to dance, you'll need tap/ballet shoes for that. But for all the others, you would want a good sneaker, but what kind?

If you want something to protect joints, look for a shoe with a lot of cushion. Memory foam souls are really growing in popularity and for good reason. I recently tried the Reebok Zprint Women's Running Shoes. The Reebok Zprint offers Flexibility, shock absorption, and Memory Tech sockliner for even more cushion and comfort, perfect for running. Each shoe is built for a specific purpose. The extra shock absorption is critical when running, which is why I really love these Reeboks. I've recently started running again, and I think having the right shoe makes all the difference!

I also had a chance to try the Skechers GOwalk 4 Exceed Women's Walking Shoes. Since I go walking almost weekly, I know what works for me and what doesn't. Flip flops just don't cut it! I've tried canvas sneakers, sandals, and even boots, but at the end of the day, sneakers just work best. The Skechers Gowalk  walking shoe offers tapered midfoot design for improved arch support, stabalizing panels, and innovative and highly responsive midsole cushioning perfect for strolling. I wear these when I take the boys for a walk, or when I want a less intense working at the gym.  

My husband had a chance to check out the Reebok Men's Crossfit Speed TR Sneaker during his weight training, and this shoe offers compression fit for muscle support and a 3mm heel drop for a stable ride, full-foot grooves on the outsole for gecko-like traction, and metasplit flex grooves for balance. These shoes are super comfortable, lightweight, and contour to my foot.  They are great for training, walking, exercising, and walking.  They are light enough to throw in my gym bag and do not bog me down when running.  I like how the fabric allows my feet to breathe and how the soles bend easily for added comfort.  The soles are different from other sneakers in that they are not stiff and rigid.  They move with me and not against me; a feature that is a must for people that spend a lot of time on their feet. 

So regardless of if you want to walk, run, weight train, dance, you must first get the footwear right, and that will make the exercise all the more enjoyable!

Let me know, what's your ideal workout???