If there is anything I worry about during the winter months, it is getting adequate exercise. I really do not have an excuse for my inactivity. However, the excuse I use regularly is that it is too cold outside! I am sure many of you are having the same problems. I really don't enjoy putting on three layers of clothing to exercise. All that seems to result is my body accumulating more sweat than I’d like to admit to.

As a future health and physical education instructor, it seems completely unnatural for me to continually excuse myself from nearly any kind of daily activity. There isn't even snow on the ground where I am yet, and I have already convinced myself it is too cold to be outside. Of course I make one exception: I only go outside to get to the car to go somewhere. The interesting thing is that a month ago, I used my bicycle or my legs to get me to all the necessary places.

I decided a month has passed, and I cannot go on like this any longer. Something must be done to get my body moving, and not just from the house to the car. I don't know how many of you are going through this winter exercise phase along with me, but let me tell you, I see men who are senior citizens running down the road wearing a cap, heavy sweatshirt, and shorts over long johns, and I start to feel pretty guilty. I have a young, perfectly able body that should have no excusable reason for not getting out there and burning some calories.

Even thinking about going outside to drive (yes I said drive) to the gym makes me cringe. I avoid going outside so much, I choose to clean the house over exercise. However, I am not willing to buy new jeans in 2 months after I have consumed double my normal calories eating holiday goodies. Hopefully more of you are better advocates for daily exercise than I am. I do not consider it acceptable for someone who is trying to promote wellness to constantly avoid exercise.

There are plenty of opportunities to choose movement over watching television, cleaning the house, or reading a book. I know the house is nice and warm. Purchasing a gym membership is probably the most convenient place for daily exercise. It might be costly, but for me, it is worth the cash to avoid gaining quite a few pounds and spending extra time in the future burning it all off . Some winter activities are likely to take up the whole day, however, they can be quite enjoyable and an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Outdoor recreation activities you might enjoy are snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding, which are all great cardiovascular workouts.

So if you are continuously making excuses for yourself (like I am), just remember, exercising is not an activity to put on hold. In a few months, it will be warm again and I will be dying to get outside. However, my body isn't going to like me much if I try to work at the intensity I was working at during the summer months. So get out there and do something, whether it is walking around the block, working on a machine at the gym, or snowboarding with your kids: your body with thank you later.

Rochelle Mills
pelinks4u editorial assistant

TRANS FATS: I am sure you have noticed the new trend in "No Trans Fats" labels on food products. Remember to always check food labels of the foods you are purchasing. Being a smart consumer is the first step to maintaining a healthy diet. The FDA has dedicated a section of their website to educate us on Trans Fats. They can answer your questions such as, "What are Trans Fats?" and "What types of foods tend to have Trans Fats?" The site also explains why Trans Fats are now required for all food labels.

KID QUESTIONS: What about kids? Children sometimes have the most interesting questions. Adults often don't have the answers. Kid's Health has created a parent site to assist you in answering questions your children might have, or even to answer your own questions. Sample topics discussed are "Nutrition and Fitness," "Pregnancy and Newborns," and "Doctors and Hospitals."

SLEEP LOSS: When you miss out on sleep, the hours are lost. Even if you sleep in on the weekends, sleep lost during the week is not compensated for. Maintaining a healthy sleep pattern is important for obvious reasons: high energy levels and low stress levels. Helpguide.org provides information regarding sleep conditions, along with other health information. They address symptoms, common types, and the risk factors of having a sleep condition.

Adult Immunization Schedule - Perhaps we don't think immunizations for adults are necessary. Looks like we'd better think again.

Flu - Although most people recover from the flu, the CDC estimates that in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year. Find out more. Read also these Flu Facts.

Child raising toughest on young grandmothers
Age may work in reverse when it comes to raising grandchildren, suggests a University of Florida study that finds younger grandmothers in this role are depressed more often than their older counterparts. Find out more.

Most of us know the problems people face during the winter months; getting colds, getting fat, and getting depressed. Well, that's a little extreme. However, this is the time of year when most people are spending more time indoors, avoiding the cold. This means more time to lounge and feast on holiday treats, and less time exercising and staying healthy.

If you are promoting a healthy lifestyle to your students, you must recognize that you are the individual they are observing all day long. You must stay healthy yourself in order to effectively teach your students to stay healthy. Health issues that arise during the winter months are weight gain, seasonal affective disorder, influenza, and colds. The best way to beat these problems is to be aware of them. None of these problems are going to go away on their own.

It's up to you to make healthy choices all year long! We all know during the cold months of the year how difficult this can be. So pair up with a friend and keep each other motivated to keep moving and eating healthy. If you are worried about being active in the cold weather, be creative and find ways to be active without having to bundle up. You could also try a new winter sport such as snowboarding, snow shoeing, or cross country skiing.

Some of you may be trying to stay away from the cold and flu bugs. Remember, the dirtiest places around the office are door handles, key boards, and copy machines. Be sure to wash your hands regularly, for 20 seconds each time! If you feel like you are coming down with something, before you call the doctor evaluate your symptoms. You may simply have a cold and antibiotics won't benefit you.

Missing the sunshine or feeling extraordinarily down? You may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder if your diet has changed dramatically, you are feeling fatigued, or you are avoiding social situations. Of course these symptoms can also be due to other life factors. However, according to the American Family of Physicians, over half a million people in the U.S. suffer from Season Affective Disorder.

So stay warm, stay active, eat well, and stay away from those germs!

The internet is a great place to find effective tools to keep you healthy this winter. Being able to research health issues without having to make a doctor's appointment can be very convenient. Also, the internet makes finding creative diet and exercise programs much easier for the busy people we are. Take a look at the following links to better prepare you for the winter months!

Is it the Flu or a Cold? WebMD can help you decide if making an appointment to see the doctor is necessary.

Wondering if you need a vaccine such as the flu shot? The CDC has provided information for adolescents and adults who may be at risk. There is also vaccination information for parents to decide if their child is at risk and what vaccines are recommended for children under the age of five.

What to know more about Seasonal Affective Disorder? Family Doctor provides accurate health information from the American Family of Physicians regarding the statistics, symptoms, and treatment of SAD.

You know you want to exercise during these months. However, it's either too cold out, or you cannot think of anything exciting to pursue. Fine Living created a Top 10 Winter Exercise List to give you some ideas to get you moving!

If are asthmatic, exercising may not be enjoyable for you during the winter time. WebMD has created a list of solutions for active asthmatics. You shouldn't have to miss out on winter activities due to your asthma. Solutions provided include: getting a flu shot, wearing a mask while exercising in the snow, and eating well.

If you like to cook, but want to avoid foods high in calories, high in cholesterol, and high carbohydrates, you should check out the Food Network's Healthy Recipes and Ideas page. They also provide recipes specialized for diabetics and vegetarians. There is also a video to watch as you cook! My favorite is the Middle Eastern Chicken Sloppy Joe.

One of my favorite parts of my family holiday celebrations are the games we play following dinner. Part of being healthy is having a stable and enjoyable group of people who support you. Whether it is your family, friends, or colleagues, being together with people you enjoy is what is important. This year when you choose to play games, try some games that get you active! Here are some of my favorite games to play with my family during the holiday season. You might want to check them out and introduce them to your family events!

	Cranium - a game best played with a large group. This game is for left and right brain thinkers. Players must be willing to be creative!
	Mexican Train - a game played with specialty dominoes. Be ready to ride the train!
	Apples to Apples - What word you use to describe a particular politician? What about a famous actress? In this game, everyone gets the final word.
	Catch Phrase - be quick, be creative, and don’t say the word! This game is great to play in large groups. Kids v. Adults, Females v. Males, or Family v. Family!
	Scattergories - this is a word game that requires you to be creative. Don't use the same word someone else uses or you're in trouble!

Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book - Tree houses capture the imagination of the child in all of us, and they have never been more popular than they are today. This inspirational yet thoroughly practical guide shows even the most inexperienced weekend carpenter how to design and build a lifetime of memories for the entire family.

Playhouse - Building is child's pay with this plan! The 6 ft. square (including the porch) by 6 ft. tall playhouse comes complete with full-size patterns for angles and modular construction techniques.

Housebuilding for Children: Step-by-Step Plans for Houses Children Can Build Themselves. This book has some pretty good reviews.

Stiles Designs: how-to books, projects you can build. Stiles Designs offers a variety of books that will easily guide you through the entire process of building your cabins, rustic retreats, tree houses, playhouses, sheds, or fun projects. Each book includes an introduction, materials list, general information, table of contents, and detailed instructions and illustrations for each building project. This is just a flat FUN site, so if you want your kids to have some of the same kind of fun we had as a kid, this site definitely provides solutions. Check out this page on treehouses! Makes ya want to be a kid again!

Don't Hibernate! Some Ideas for Family Winter Outdoor Fun - This winter season don't let your family hibernate inside. Why not put all that fresh snow to good use? Bundle everyone up and participate in some fun activities the whole family will enjoy. Here are some great ideas. Here are some easy to follow directions for building a snow fort. Write the directions down and give them to your kids.

Avoid snow castles and sliding by the road

We would like to remind parents and their children to avoid building forts, tunnels, and snow castles by the side of the road, as well as avoid letting them slide or snowboard on snow mounds. This constitutes a real danger for your kids. Motorists and snow removal trucks don't see your kids and aren't always able to brake on time.

Furthermore, snow-clearing vehicles can bury your kids into their castle without even having knowledge of it! Instead, encourage your youngsters to play and build their snow structures behind the house where their safety isn't compromised.

Snow Forts - Build a fort for some serious snow fun. Here are some directions.

100 Fun Things To Do With Your Family
This is a pretty good list of fun activities to draw from in regard to family fun. How about printing it out, and referring to it when you're trying to come up with fun and recreational ideas?

Family Fun Things to Do - A list specific to families. Good clean fun for everyone. See also Kid Fun. This is not just a list for kids. It is a great list of kidlike activities that can bring a lot of laughs without too much effort.