Part 1: Ice Skating, Fun ways to stay active during the Winter Season

In an attempt to take 1 of the top 3 prizes for the biggest loser competition this coming Sunday 1/30, my friends and I  have come up with some fun ways to stay active and healthy during the Winter Season:

1) Fun ways to stay active during the Winter Season, Ice Skating
    *471- 572 Calories burned per hour*

Let me start by mentioning that I have not gone ice skating since my 22nd birthday in downtown Providence, RI (for the record I am a ripe 27 years young at the moment) and prior to that probably when I was about 10 years old. Although it may seem intimidating to try, it was just like riding a bike and really easy to get accustomed to- I suggest you all give it a try.

One of my dearest friends Venus had called me at about 10:30 A.M. a few Saturday's back asking if Mark and I wanted to join her family for an afternoon of skating, of course I was interested, so I worked some persuasion techniques on the man friend and met her there at 11:00. The local rink was just how I had remembered from my youth and it even had the same smell and set up after all these years. I love nostalgia!

We arrived first, picked out our skates, laced up and jumped on in! Mark was like an old pro filled with confidence and grace, I on the other hand approached this adventure with a some caution and decided to ease in by gliding along the wall for a test run. By the time Venus's family had arrived I was much more comfortable and even attempted a few spins and twirls..nothing Olympic status, that award would have to go to Venus's dad, Bob aka Tatay. Talk about fearless! Turns out he had played hockey in his younger years and didn't want to waste any time "warming back up". His courageous technique caused him to fall pretty hard a few times, but he always came back up laughing with a determined smile. It was was quite humorous for all of us especially his spectator wife Ida, and it helped with convincing his 5 years old granddaughter Malaya that it really didn't hurt that bad if you fell.

It was a great morning spent with friends and family, I promise give it a try and you will not be disappointed.

* Calories burned depends on weight and light or moderate level of exercise

Try out the Ice Skating calculator:

http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/caloriesburned/ice_skating/result?weightPounds=180&duration=120&activity=&met=5.5&submit=submit