I don’t know about you, but when it’s warm outside and the sun is shining until about 8 p.m. every night my energy levels feel comparable to drinking 3 cups of coffee and 2 Red Bulls. I leave work feeling like the day has barely just started and I’m excited to get outside and enjoy the weather by going for a run, bike ride or hike on Casper Mountain.

But then summer ends, our days become shorter and my bedtime goes from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m.

When I step outside after a full day of work and it’s already dark, my brain starts convincing my body that it’s time to go to sleep. And when it’s dark, cold and the wind is so bad I feel like I can barely stay on my feet, nothing sounds better to me than a warm bed and some Netflix.

Am I right?

But this blog isn’t about which heated blanket you should buy or which Netflix series to watch. No, this blog is about staying active through the winter so that you can keep your summer body year-round.

My best advice: find something you love doing. If you have that one activity that you enjoy and are excited for, it’ll make it that much easier to do every day.

If you don’t know what that is yet, it’s ok, I’m here to help you find it here in Casper.

Nordic Skiing

If you’re as big of a fan of Casper Mountain as I am during the summer, you probably aren’t opposed to enjoying it during the winter, too. With 26 miles of groomed trails, Nordic skiing is the perfect way to do just that. You can even go night skiing as part of the trails are lit up until 10 p.m.

If you aren’t sure what Nordic skiing is exactly, I urge you to not Google, “Is Nordic skiing hard?”

But assuming you just did, I’ll just be upfront with you. Nordic skiing can be tough, and works just about every muscle in your body. So if you’re someone who enjoys challenging yourself and learning new things, Nordic skiing is definitely worth a try.I have a strong feeling that I’ve sold you on it and you’re eager to find out more, so head over to Natrona County’s website for more information like trail maps and pricing.

Fat Biking

I think that if I were to ever try mountain biking I would either…

1) Get run over by other mountain bikers by going too slow and getting in their way. Or,

2) Ride straight into a rock or tree, fall over and slide down the mountain and have to survive in the wilderness until I was found.

But I know there’s a huge community of mountain bikers here in Casper, so this one is for you guys. Just because the mountain is covered in snow doesn’t mean the biking season is over. Biking is a great exercise, and if you love doing it then fat biking would be the perfect winter activity for you. Rent a fat bike from one of our local bike shops and head out to Eadsville Trail which has well-groomed and well-marked trails for both beginners and experts.

Swimming

During the winter, I find it refreshing to head out to Alcova and go for an open water swim.

Just kidding…

But there are three gyms in Casper that do have pools if you’re interested in giving it a shot.

Swimming is a great aerobic exercise and is extremely stress free on the body. If you’re a runner that finds it difficult to get your runs in during the winter months, swimming would be a great winter activity to try. It will certainly keep you in shape and injury free.

Look into LifeTime Fitness, Wyoming Athletic Club or the Casper Family YMCA for information!

Snowshoeing

During the winter, you’ll hear a lot of people say, “I miss hiking the mountain”.

Well listen up because you can still enjoy hiking the mountain in the winter, and it’s almost like a whole new experience.

If you’re looking for something that you’re not afraid to Google (cough, Nordic skiing, cough), budget friendly and something you can do with a large group or your whole family, try snowshoeing. When the weather isn’t too cold and there’s a fresh layer of snow up on the mountain, snowshoeing can be a peaceful and relaxing activity.

Bundle up and take a loved one for a date, or bring the kids along with a sled and make a day out of it. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it, and you’ll find yourself saying “I miss snowshoeing on the mountain” during the summer.

Just remember that the secret to staying motivated and finding the energy to stay active in the winter is to find an activity that you really enjoy doing. You want to be excited about it, and you want to miss it on your days off.

Did I miss anything? How do you get active in the winter?