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With the Winter Olympics well under way in Vancouver, cold-weather lovers can use the Olympic inspiration to launch into winter activities to burn off some of those calories stored around the waist.

With activities like snow shoveling, sledding, playing in the snow, shopping, hot yoga, snowball fighting, a game of pick-up pond hockey, snow shoeing, winter offers plenty of opportunities to get out there, so be sure to bundle up & be ready to have fun.

Find out about Calorie-burning winter activities!

Sledding

Whee! The ride down is a breeze, but climbing up the hill with your sled or toboggan is a real workout. “You’re walking uphill against gravity, pulling a load, maybe pulling your child along,” says MacKinnon. That builds muscle and challenges your cardiovascular system. Plus, it’s another chance to show your family how much fun active living can be.<br/> Tips : Skating helmets protect the heads of kids and adults alike. Dress warmly and bring something to drink.

What you eat and how much you eat has a direct impact on your well-being & health. Those armed with the most current knowledge will undoubtedly experience greater success in reaching their dietary, weight, fitness, and life goals;

If you want to lose weight, you have to regularly burn more than you eat. The problem is that most people don’t have an accurate idea of how many calories they are consuming versus how much they are expending. A good place to start is to figure out what your daily calorie intake needs are based on your weight, gender and age, and then subtract 200. Think of it as your “calorie allowance” and adjust your meal plans accordingly.

Read more about 5 fitness mistakes.

When it comes to “natural” ways to improve blood pressure, sodium restriction snags the spotlight. Most experts agree that limiting sodium is a smart strategy for those looking to lower blood pressure, but why focus on what you can’t—or shouldn’t—have? Shift your emphasis to positive lifestyle changes you can make to improve blood pressure.

1. Nosh on plenty of produce. Fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and rich in potassium, which offsets sodium’s effect on blood pressure. Potassium-packed picks: baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, spinach, winter squash, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, beans and tomatoes.

Find more tips at 8 Great Ways to Lower Blood Pressure: Sodium Aside.