With winter fast approaching, it is time to shift your focus on what you will do during winter. For sports enthusiasts, this is the time to look forward to the various winter sports that you can participate in. And there are so many to choose from. One of the most popular winter sports is snowshoeing. It’s a great sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Snowshoeing require the use of a special shoe whose function is to help distribute a person’s weight so that it makes it easier to walk on top of the snow. The shoes look like tennis rackets that have a strap attached to it to secure the foot. To be able to perform well with snowshoes, you must be fit. Here are some life tips you can follow to get you in top form for snowshoeing.
Diet
Start by shifting to a good diet. Load up on vegetables, fruits and fish while limiting your intake of read meat, junk food and food that is oily or fried. Sweets should be taken in moderation. (This life tip can help improve not just your snowshoeing skills, but your general energy levels. You can find other life tips in our articles on the fun way to cut fat from your diet, and some low-fat, high-protein diet alternatives like tofu.
Resistance training
Snowshoeing will test your resistance because it will work your legs a lot. That’s why you will need to build your strength with resistance training. Add more cardio workouts in your training regimen. You can add various types of cardio activities like running or using the stationary bike. Aerobic exercises are also a big help in building your resistance. One unorthodox way of building resistance is by inhaling steam. The steam will help unclog your respiratory system, which will allow you to breathe more easily.
Practice makes perfect
Even if snow hasn’t started falling yet, you can go through the motions of snowshoeing already to help acclimatize your body to the movements of your body when using snow shoes. Go on hikes or go up long flights of stairs (the stairs in tall buildings are the most ideal). You can even take the steps two or three to really build up those leg muscles.
Building lower body strength
Your lower body will be the most worked up parts of your anatomy once you get in those snowshoes. Anticipate this already by strengthening your lower body. Walking and jogging are great activities. Squats and sit-ups or crunches are also great exercises. Use the gym’s ladder machine to really give your leg muscles a workout. To further increase your training, walk any chance you get.
Photo from rockiesguide.com