5 Tips for Running Safely During Winter Season

Running is one of the best, easiest, and cheapest forms of exercising. It's great for cardio training. The low speed and long period running has low impact on your knees but is great for your endurance. You only need a good pair of running shoes and a comfortable set of clothes and you are good to go. You can even take your kid and put him/her in a stroller for some bonding time at the park or your pet dog for a much-needed exercise. All these sound too easy for every day running.

However, all these simple and easy things become unusually hard and even dangerous during winter season. First, there is probably snow everywhere and the road is more slippery making it extra dangerous for runners. Second, you would have to brave the cold wind and make your legs and feet work despite what could be freezing temperature. Third and definitely not the last, the thought of running versus marshmallows and a hot cup of chocolate over bonfire do not make things any easier for a runner.

Despite what seemed to be the disadvantages of running during the winter season, this is not at all impossible. In fact, experts say it could be easy once you get the hang of it and that you might even find it more enjoyable given the fact that you can run for as long as you can without drenching in sweat.

If you are open to the possibility of running during the winter season, here are some tips from the experts on how to run safely yet effectively:

1.     Know your goal.

Go back to square one and ask yourself why you want to run in the first place. Are you prepping for a race or simply vowed to get better and fitter? If running is the closest exercise to your heart, it would not at all be hard to know your goal and follow it. Knowing what your goal is will get that motivation inside you going. Once your goal is achieved, do not forget to reward yourself before moving on to your next goal.

2.     Stay Motivated.

It is easy to be motivated but not as easy to stay motivated. Knowing what your goal is will easily get you motivated but how do you stay motivated especially during the winter months when it is way more appealing to stay at home and pig out with the whole family?

A great tip here from the experts is to have a running partner and figure out a schedule that works for you both. Through this way, you would find it harder to back out on your goal because someone is waiting for you. In fact, you can even encourage more people to join. Statistics has it that group runs are very popular during the winter season.

3.     Pick the Right Clothes.

In any other season, you can literally wear what you feel comfortable running with. But for winter season, this is not the case. You have to pick the right clothes. By right, it means to layer properly without overdressing as is the usual case for first time runners in winter season.

Experts say to dress 15 to 20 degrees warmer but not more than that or you might have a harder time running due to heavy clothes and possible risk of overheating. But dressing 15 to 20 degrees will keep you warm enough to let you finish your running goal for that day.

Another great tip here is to go outside and test the weather. If you feel chilled, then you probably are wearing the right clothes but if you feel warm despite the chilly weather, tone it down by removing a layer.

4.     Get the Right Accessories.

This is equally important as picking the right clothes. They go hand in hand. Remember that you will know you are wearing the proper clothing if you feel kind of chilly once you get out the door? The trick to keep you warmer is through accessorizing. Through this way, you can put it on when you feel it is extremely cold and remove it if it gets warmer.

The appropriate accessories every runner in winter must have are running jacket that totally blocks wind and moisture, hat, headband, gloves, and may be ear muffs depending on the person.

5.     Pick the Right Time of Day to Run.   

Experts say that it is best to run during daylight hours where one can also get his/her much-needed dose of the sunshine vitamin. However, this does not mean that running under a light snow fall and a gazillion stars is not enjoyable. This will actually depend on one’s preference.

What would be a great idea here is when there is sun, run and make the most out of it. For those gloomier days, get the group together and run under a blanket of stars and may be camp out for some snack with bon fire afterwards for a more pleasant experience.

Remember that the only difference in running during winter is the weather, you will likely have to change your running outfit and add on a bunch of other accessories to keep you warm but the rest like food, water, and supplies remain a staple. Experiment on running in the winter and you just might love it. Just watch for those slippery trails though.

Hiking With a Dog

Hiking can be a fun activity that you can do with your pet. The outdoors is calling your name and it is time that you went exploring with your dog. Your pooch will likely love to hike along the trails with you and take in the nature that is all around. Hiking with your dog might be a relaxing experience that gets you out and about, but there are a few things you need to know before you head for the nearest trails. The next time you trade in your typical walk around the block with your dog for a hike with a scenic view, these are the tips you should follow.

Set Limits and Learn Them

The first thing that you need to consider is your current activity level. If the longest walks for you and your dog consist of only a few laps around the block, you may want to ease into hiking. Before you start some 10 mile hike that will leave you and your pooch stranded, you need to accurately evaluate your activity level. This means that you should ease into hiking far distances slowly and begin with much shorter hikes right off the bat. You and your dog need to be able to hike without having any difficulty or experiencing any pain. Just make sure to begin intensifying your routine walks slowly and build up your endurance and stamina before you set off on a long hike with your dog. See here for the best hiking trails in the US.

Take What You Need Along

The key to keeping yourself and your dog safe on your hike is to take what you need with you. This may seem really straightforward, but you will be surprised to learn how many hikers venture off on trails without the essentials. It is crucial that your dog has up-to-date ID tags that contain all of your contact information. If you somehow get separated from your dog on your hike, you need to know that he will be returned to your care safely. You should also be sure to bring a small first aid kit along just in case you find yourself or your dog with a small cut or wound. Some hiking trails can be a bit dangerous in certain wooded areas.

Hydrate Your Dog

Chances are you will bring a water bottle to quench your thirst during your grueling hike, but you also need to bring along some water and food for your pooch. Your canine companion will need plenty of water during a long hike, so you have to bring along a dish to put it in. You can purchase collapsible bowls that are easy to carry along with you in your back and take up little room. Remember to bring along about 8 ounces of water for every hour of your hike.

Don’t Deviate Too Far Off The Trail

If you want to keep you and your dog safe, you need to be aware of your surroundings and stick to the mapped out trail.

Anti Aging Cream for Men

Mostly, I've been writing about all the sports we do in the family, my motorcycle and hiking trips and about eating healthy. A few other interesting topics were about men's health and skin care. This post will be about men's aging... Or actually prevent or delay the aging ;) 

Anti aging cream for men is made specifically not to smell like women's anti aging cream and has other ingredients that are meant to penetrate a mans skin. That does not men that the ingredients are greatly different. Both men and women have the same aging issues, wrinkles, fine lines and leathery looking skin if they do not do something about it.

There are some tried and true ingredients that can be found in anti aging cream that are found in cream for women but the packaging and the fact that it is made for men can easily drive the cost up quite a bit.

Most companies do not market anti aging crème specially to men. They market it to women because it is more accepted in society for a women to be vain and worried about aging BUT just because you are a man does not mean you want to look like something that was road hard and hung up wet to dry. Men should be able to buy anti aging crèmes without the stigma attached.

The Cost

The fact is that these creams are more expensive for men than they are for women because there is a smaller market of men that purchase these creams and there are less options that are made specifically for men's skin.

There are some subtle differences between men and women's skin. Men's skin is a bit thicker and a little harder to penetrate than a woman's skin so the ingredients of the skin cream does need to reflect this by using different ratios of ingredients to best suit the use for men's skin. This of course also drives up the cost.

What you can do is just by cream that is made for a woman's skin and use a little more of it if you want to avoid the higher cost. Finding products made especially for men can be difficult but it is not impossible but you should know that you will pay more for it than your female counterpart will pay for her creams.

The Products

There are some products that are out on the market that are perfect for men. Baxters of California offers a full range of men's anti aging creams that include night time and day time moisturizers, sun blocks and other products that can help reduce the signs of aging.

Apothecary also offers a men's line of skin care products that include anti aging cremes. They are all fairly priced. Many of the larger men's fashion designer houses also offer a full line of mens skin care that are dependable and fairly priced.

L'Oreal just started a new line of skin care that is geared toward men. They already have quite a few skin care products for men. It is rumored that they will introduce a new anti aging cream for men in the next few months. L'Oreal is an affordable brand that is reliable. As more men become aware of the need to care for their skin there will be more products offered.

Motorcycle Road Trip

Road Trip With Friends

Road trips allow you to escape from the normalcy of life a little bit and hit the open road headed for adventure. 

Taking a motorcycle road trip with some of your closest friends can make your journey even more enjoyable and help you make some more great memories. And in the end it doesn't matter whether the road trip is just a few days, a long weekend or even weeks. On the road, you can visit some interesting places and have an experience that will last a lifetime. 

However, before you set out on a road trip with your friends, there are a few things that you need to consider and plan for. If you don’t do a bit of planning before you hit the open road, you will be kicking yourself later on.

It’s All About The Journey

Your road trip is all about the journey toward your destination, but you do need to have a destination in mind. This means that you and your buddies shouldn’t just head out without any final destination as your goal. You need to have some place that you are trying to get to during your road trip. 

When you are picking a destination for your road trip you do need to be logical and use a bit of foresight. You need to take into account the typical distances that you have traveled on your motorcycle before and the amount of miles that you can cover during your trip. When you think about the amount of time that you will need, you also have to account for rest, sleep and the time that you will spend off the road. 

Most motorcycle enthusiasts don’t like to travel more than about 500 miles a day, so you have to make sure that you and your friends decide on the amount of miles that you wish to cover.

Comfort is Important

You don’t want to get in a race against time. Make sure that you plan a road trip that allows you to relax and take in the scenic views and sites that are along the way. You don’t want to be in too much of a hurry, because it will keep you from experiencing all that your trip has to offer. 

The most important thing to remember is comfort. If you own your own motorcycle, you just have to deal with it but if you need to rent one, take a comfortable touring motorcycle. You'll benefit from it especially on longer road trips. You want to plan a road trip that allows you to feel relaxed at all times. You and your friends do not want to be trying to cover too many miles along the way. At the end of the day, any journey can be enjoyable as long as you have your prized motorcycle and your best friends by your side.

Break it Up

Sometimes breaking up your road trip into small excursions can be the best way to help you get a full experience on the road. Check out this site for more info. You can choose a few smaller destinations along the way that can be interesting places to stop and explore. 

As long as you have your trip mapped out and know where you are going, you and your friends are guaranteed to have the time of your lives.

Healthy Deserts for Sporters

If you are active and enjoy performing physical sports, you probably make an extra effort to watch what you eat. Just because you like to put in a grueling workout does not necessarily mean that you don’t have a sweet tooth. However, if you are looking to stay in peak condition, you have to alter some of your eating habits a bit. This means instead of indulging in the triple chocolate cake, you need to reach for more health dessert alternatives. There are so many healthy dessert recipes available that contain so much less fat and sugar than traditional recipes.

If you are a sporter (boxer, runner or so) that watches the amount of sugar you put in your body, these are a few of the healthy desserts that you can eat guilt-free:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Even if you are a running enthusiast or spend your weekend’s mountain biking through the rough terrain, chances are you still have a sweet spot for chocolate. If you are not a big baker and can’t seem to quit your chocolate craving, you can feed your body with the best of both worlds. Why not indulge in chocolate covered fruits. This gives your body the vitamins and natural nourishment that it desires for fuel, but also helps you feed your chocolate craving. The best part is that no matter what your baking skills are, you can make this healthy dessert with nor problem at all.

Blueberry & White Chocolate Chunk Ginger Cookies

Sometimes the healthiest desserts are just a twist on an old favorite. Instead of reaching for a batch of traditional homemade chocolate chip cookies, you can make some blueberry and white chocolate chunk ginger cookies that are just as tasty. These cookies might seem a bit intimidating to bake due to their name, but they are really simple to whip up. All you have to do is stir all the ingredients together and give them time to bake. This is one healthy dessert that you will definitely be baking again. Once bite and you will be hooked.

Baby Tiramisu

There are some exquisite desserts that you simply can’t live without no matter how dedicated you are to your body and your sport. If you are a huge fan of the traditional Italian dessert Tiramisu, you can just trim off some of the fat and sugar for a lower-calorie version that still hits the spot. This is a classic dessert that you can make quickly and you can use any type of ladyfinger that you find most appetizing.

Cherries with Ricotta & Toasted Almonds

You might think that ricotta cheese is just an ingredient for lasagna, but it actually is the main ingredient in a really tasty and satisfying dessert. This luscious creation also includes cherries and toasted almonds that make it low in calories, but big in taste. It is now possible to indulge without feeling guilty in your dessert selection.

All of these healthy desserts are ideal for sporters just like you.