Cakes And Treadmills

Tired of those winter pounds sneaking up on you? When the weather won't let you get out to the trail to finish your daily run, you can always find a fun alternative to keep those pounds from creeping in on you.

What if you could turn winter's cold weather into a game? Instead of resisting the weather, you can use it to your advantage to get exercise, to burn calories and to improve your fitness. You can also use it to bond with friends and deepen relationships.

Here are five fun and social ways to exercise in the cold.

==> #1: Race through the Snow

Bundle yourselves up and go for a race! Racing through the snow poses unique challenges. You have to plunge through the snow's resistance, find easy paths and combat tough visibility.

If conditions are really bad, do the race in pairs to make sure nobody gets in a bind out there on their own.

==> #2: Host a Pillow Fight

When it's snowing, freezing or foggy outside, bring the party home. Instead of working out in the cold, why not get your heart racing indoors with a pillow fight party instead?

You can do it just once, or make it a regular thing. Combine the pillow fight with other physical activities to make it a workout for the whole group.

==> #3: Do the 100 Push-Up Challenge

There's something about the number one hundred that's inherently appealing - especially when doing a challenge. That's one of the reasons why the 100 push-up challenge was created and one of the reasons so many people took it on.

The 100 push-up challenge is a free online challenge you can take on. They provide a six-week training program designed to take you from where you are now to doing 100 push-ups.

This challenge will help build your shoulder muscles, your biceps, your triceps, your chest muscles and even your back and buttock muscles. It's also quite an aerobic exercise and will give your cardiovascular system a good workout as well.

==> #4: The Speed House Cleaning Party

Have a garage that hasn't been cleaned out in a couple years? Or an attic that needs rearranging? Or maybe you've been meaning to redecorate an area of the house for some time?

Since you're going to be stuck in the house anyway, why not make a party out of it? Invite a bunch of your friends, bring some food, put on some music and have a house cleaning party. If it's a small area, you could do it with just the family.

==> #5: Twister

Twister is a fantastic social and physical game that really shines in winter. Invite a few of your friends over, put on some music, lay out the Twister map and let the games begin. Again, you can combine this Twister party with some of the other activities described here.

These are some of the many ways you can use winter time to your advantage. Instead of exercising alone, use winter as an opportunity to get together with friends and work out together.