We are a little over a week into January and surveys show a quarter of us have already quit our New Year’s Resolution to lose weight or be more active.

Whatever your resolution is, don’t give up just yet. Whether you’re losing that extra Christmas cookie weight, trying to beat the “winter blues” and get outdoors, or just looking for a new, fun weekend activity, northern Michigan offers a winter arena for outdoor activities galore. So, bundle up and give one of these snow activities a try.

Cross-Country Skiing

Not only is cross-country skiing a means of transportation in the winter, it’s a great total
body workout.

Simultaneously pushing and pulling, working your upper and lower body burns more calories than boxing, swimming or biking. Essentially traveling across a snow covered terrain on skis, it is easily learned by most anyone, young and old.

Speed can be controlled at your own pace, making for a fun, social activity with friends. Low impact on joints makes this sport a therapeutic, healthy option for winter workouts.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing, like cross-country skiing, is easy to learn, safe and inexpensive.

Making it another great way to take advantage of all the snow we get in northern Michigan. Burning more than 600 calories an hour (45 percent more than running or walking at the same speed), many runners take to snowshoeing as an alternative winter workout.

You can go almost anywhere there is snow, no specific trails are required. Just put on some snowshoes and head outdoors. Looking for a higher endorphin rush? Snowshoe races are becoming increasingly popular. Timber Ridge draws in over 500 people a year to participate in their Big Foot 5K and 10K Snowshoe Race every January.

Fat Biking

Fat bikes have proved to be more than just a fad, as many had predicted it would be when it became the hottest trend of winter in early 2000.

Rentals, races and fat tire bike trails are everywhere now. Dec. 7 is even recognized internationally as Global Fat Bike Day. A fat bike, for those of you who are not familiar, is a bike with over-sized tires, typically 3.8 inches or larger and rims 2.6 inches or wider, designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on surfaces like sand and snow.

Many commuters use fat bikes during the winter months as an alternative to their traditional commuter road bikes. Others choose fat biking as form of exercise in winter months. Fat bikes cost anywhere from $1,700 to $3,000 but can be rented at several bike shops around Traverse City. If you haven’t tried fat biking yet, add this to your list of winter workout fun this year.

Some Popular Trails:
TART Winter Sports Single Track
Timber Ridge/VASA
Ranch Rudolf

Races:
Snowshoeing – BigFoot Snowshoe 5k – Jan. 23
Fat Bike – Fat Chance – Crystal Mountain Jan. 23
Cross Country Skiing – White Pine Stampede – Feb. 7
Cross Country Skiing – North American Vasa King – Timber Ridge Feb. 12–14
Fat Bike – Beard of Zeus Timber Ridge – March 5

Rentals:
Crystal Mountain
Grand Traverse Resort
Timber Ridge
Brick Wheels Traverse City