Are you one of those people who's not particularly fond of exercise, but you know darn well it's good for you (and that's the only reason you consider doing it)? 

Is it ridiculously hard to get yourself motivated just to go for a walk (the simplest and most no-nonsense of all exercises, in my opinion)?   And is it ridiculously easy to find any excuse not to?

Yeah.  We have that in common.

You may already have watched Episode #2 of my video series "Kim Weighs In", where I shared with you some of my favorite excuses not to exercise...and that was in pleasant weather.  Winter can make it even more challenging to get off your butt for a healthy stroll. 

Besides the obvious deterrent of the cold, two things that tend to keep me sedentary in winter are: 1) wheezing caused by cold air, and 2) fear of slipping and falling on ice and/or snow.

Asthmatics, and even many non-asthmatics, may have experienced severe wheezing upon inhaling cold air.  At the very least, it can cause an irritating impulse to clear your throat due to the thickening mucous there; at worst, it makes it difficult to breathe -- not what you want to feel while walking. 

The fact that I've experienced this even sporadically is enough to keep me at the window, looking out and rationalizing, "Yeah yeah, I know I 'should' go for a walk...but it's cold out there, and what could be less healthy than suffocating to death?  Yep, that makes perfect sense.  Hey, I wonder if The Golden Girls are on!" 

Well, that excuse doesn't work for me anymore -- and it doesn't have to work for you, either.

See, I discovered the Cold Weather Mask from I Can Breathe! Masks.  It's a well-designed, lightweight polar fleece mask that fits over your nose and mouth and prevents cold-air wheezing. 



I love this thing!  The Cold Weather Mask from I Can Breathe! Masks allows you to breathe freely while walking, and the air you inhale is warmed as it passes through the mask.  It works perfectly.

Two adjustable straps fit comfortably over your ears, and a covered flexible wire at the top allows you to pinch the peak of the mask into optimal position against your nose.  It fits securely -- I had no problems with slippage whatsoever as I moved -- and at the same time, it's light and non-binding.

The mask is silk lined, which is soft, comfortable and non-chafing against the cheeks. 



The mask is specifically designed to wick dampness away from your nose and mouth, too. 

It's latex-free, washable, dries quickly and is made in both Adult and Child sizes. 

My Cold Weather Mask from I Can Breathe! Masks has really has freed me up to walk in even the most brutal cold.  The manufacturer claims the mask has been tested in -40 F wind chill. 

If cold weather wheezing has been a problem for you, consider investing in an I Can Breathe! Mask for $30 (Adult size).  Check it out at www.icanbreathe.com.

I've also had a grand time reasoning that physical activity is best put off 'til spring when the danger of slipping on ice, slush and snow is past.  (And with those pushy sea salt salespeople lurking around every corner at the mall, walking indoors is simply not an option.)

But thanks to ICEtrekkers, I can fit that walk into my schedule in even the worst of winter weather.



ICEtrekkers makes rubber slings that slip over your favorite athletic shoes and add traction, allowing you to plow ahead on frozen surfaces. 

This is something of a mixed review.  I took three varieties of ICEtrekkers for a test drive -- Chains, Diamond Grips and Spikes -- but I would only recommend one. 



In short, buy the Spikes; avoid the Chains and Diamond Grips. 

The Spikes were mad functional.  They allowed me to walk over slick patches of ice at a respectable clip, without even the slightest slip.  With the ICEtrekkers Spikes slings, I was a winter walking machine.  Without a doubt, they gave the best traction out of the three.  They also have a stronger, more substantial rubber sling than the others.

Unfortunately, as excellent as the ICEtrekkers Spikes were, the ICEtrekkers Chains offered an opposite experience.  First of all, one of the rubber slings on my pair of Chains broke upon only the second wearing!  The rubber snapped at the toe grip, see?:



Very disappointing.  And since the rubber sling for the Diamond Grips is essentially the same as that of the Chains, I find myself distrusting the Diamond Grips to last as well.

Furthermore, the Chains provided very little additional traction.  If anything, they made me feel a little less stable than if I'd been wearing no slings at all. 

It was telling when, as I stood on linoleum, I kicked off my sneakers with the Chains slings on them, and the shoes went sliding across the floor on those smooth, shiny chain links. 

By contrast, kicking off the same sneakers with the Spikes slings on them resulted in the shoes grinding ahead for a fraction of an inch and then stopping stubbornly in place.  Those shoes weren't going anywhere.

If it wasn't for the apparent weakness in the rubber sling design of the Diamond Grips (same as the Chains), I might have recommended the Diamond Grips based on their traction.  It was almost as good as the Spikes.

But when the ICEtrekkers Spikes are this good, why bother with anything else?

ICEtrekkers Spikes slings go for about $24.95 a pair.  For info on where to buy, visit www.icetrekkers.com.

And no matter what the weather...breathe deeply, and keep on trekkin'!


Like this blog? Read "An Exercise Hater Finds Love"
Watch my video for people who hate exercise.

(Disclosure: I Can Breathe! was kind enough to provide a sample of their Cold Weather Mask at no cost for this review.  ICEtrekkers provided samples of three varieties of shoe slings at no cost for this review.)