Winter Workout

Trying to work off all those holiday cookies and glasses of wine? Try this simple, but achingly effective, calorie-burner this winter.

You'll need one local ice skating rink, one 52-pound little boy, and another 35-pound little girl. Check? OK, wrangle them (and yourself) into ice skates and cold weather gear. Ignore all pleas for hot chocolate -- your workout has barely begun! Your destination is that slippery, lethal arena over there, where yes, upon closer inspection, you realize your child should probably be wearing a helmet. Never mind, hobble on, and hope that you leave with the same number of fingers you arrived with.

Remember, this is supposed to be fun.

Just hang on tight to your designated child, who may or may not be floundering around like baby Bambi, and half-carry, half-slide him or her around the perimeter of the rink. Are your back and abs screaming yet? Up the ante by zigzagging around a Sweet 16 gaggle of teenage girls, give some space to that couple making out on the wall, and dodge those pre-teen boys who are zipping around at mach speed throwing snowballs at each other. 

Repeat 15 times.

Pause for obligatory photo op.

For extra credit, haul bundled-up baby out of her carseat for another obligatory photo op to prove that she was there, too.

You did it! You burned off your dinner! Now, go finish your warmdown. Get those skates off, walk six blocks back to your car, buckle everybody back in, drive home, wake everybody up and get their jammies on, and finally, finally...

enjoy those holiday cookies and a glass of wine!