Fight cold weather blues with cold weather sports

November 10, 4:32 PMSeattle Women's Fitness ExaminerLetitia Harmon

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Austria's Nicole Hosp on an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom race in Austria, Saturday Oct. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The famous cold and rainy weather of the Northwest is here. Time to hibernate, eat cookies and read books, right? Sure, if you want to develop that layer of fat that my friend affectionately calls a "winter coat." The fact is, your body doesn't care what time of year it is. To be healthy, you need to be active. Vera Fitness, a new and innovative Seattle club specifically for women, has some great tips about fighting off the doldrums and reducing your risk for getting sick with that notorious H1N1 virus.

While you might think that hibernating is the answer to warding off winter ailments, studies in fact show that even a little bit fresh air and exposure to daylight each day can help bolster your immune system and increase your feeling of well-being. So while you may think it's time to crawl under the covers and snooze until April, it's time to get outside!

The idea isn't so appealing when it's pouring down rain; but rain in the city means snow in the mountains, where there are myriad opportunities for you to get outside for some fun and exercise! Did you know that Seattle is less than three hours away from FOUR different ski resorts - Stevens Pass, Summit at Snoqualmie, Crystal Mt., and Mount Baker!

If you don't like heights and can't get to the slopes, then why not try out sledding or snowshoeing? Snowshoeing is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise that allows you to wander away from crowded ski slopes and venture through the peaceful backwoods. Don't fret if you don't have the gear to venture up and down the snowy mountains - most ski resorts will have ski, snowboard, and often sled rentals, and REI rents snowshoes.

At the very least, go outdoors! If your schedule doesn't permit you to take off to the mountains, try Seattle Center Winterfest or Bellevue Magic Season for some ice skating and other fun outdoor activities. And forever the fail-safe, get all bundled up, grab yourself a cup of hot tea from Peet's, and walk the Green Lake loop!