By: Jen Reardon, MS RD CDN, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Winter in Western New York is tough. Often times it's blustery, cold and grey. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to stay in your sweats, on the couch, watching the latest DVD release. Staying physically active can help you to beat the winter blues. Exercise releases feel good hormones that can help to boost your mood. Just being outside can make you happier too and lots of research backs up this theory. Have you ever noticed just going outside to shovel the front walk can make you feel a whole lot better once you go back in the house? Winter weather can make it more difficult to do physical activity, but the health and happiness benefits are worth making the effort.

Challenge yourself this winter to try something new or to get back to doing an old favorite. Many winter time activities burn lots of calories, which can help you from putting on the winter weight that so easily creeps around our middles from December through March. At some local parks you can rent snowshoes, cross country skis or ice skates for only a few dollars per person. Sledding is free and Genesee County Park has a great sledding hill. Get outside and build a snowman or a snow fort with your kids or grandkids. Even shoveling is good exercise, so consider keeping the snow blower in the garage if the snow is not a foot deep. To give you an idea of just how beneficial these winter activitiesare, here is a list of how many calories a 150 pound woman burns by participating in 30 minutes of each of these activities: snowshoeing – 250 calories, cross country skiing – 250 calories, downhill skiing – 250 calories, ice skating 180 calories, sledding – 180 calories and shoveling – 150 calories. So take 30 minutes out of your day, try something new, get some fresh air and embrace, rather than hide from winter this year!