Q. I'm 57 and wondering what kind of outdoor winter exercise you could recommend that wouldn't require a lot of equipment to purchase, or a lot of time involved, since I work full-time. I'm in average shape but want to get in better shape.--Winter Woman, Harshaw

   A. Walking, walking, walking! It is an easy, fun way to start with any exercise program and it’s completely free. It can be as simple as 15 minutes out, and 15 minutes back. If you have more time, you can go for longer, but it’s important not to dismiss the helpfulness and effect of short walks as part of an effort to get healthy.

    Walking in the winter provides an added complication of safety however, and that should be taken into account. If you want to walk in the woods, snowshoes are always an option, but they are expensive and not necessary to enjoy a winter walk.

    There are products available to provide traction when walking in the winter. These gadgets simply stretch over the bottom of your shoes to increase your traction and decrease your risk.

    Despite the (possibly) short nature of these walks, it is always important to stretch out before and after any workout so that you don’t cause yourself injury and set yourself back. I believe doing a short yoga tape after a walk is ideal. It stretches you out and cools you down, as well as making you feel fantastic. The best part of yoga tapes? They are available everywhere, including libraries, so it doesn’t add to your price tag.

   Q. I've heard that if you have a sedentary job, you should jiggle your foot or leg as much as possible, to burn off calories. This sounds dumb to me. Can you recommend something to burn off calories while sitting at a computer eight hours a day?--Chair Potato, Rhinelander.

   A. I’ve also heard that jiggling your feet is a viable substitute for movement when you’re sitting at a desk, and while I’ll admit that any movement is better than none at all, the idea of burning off more than a few calories this way is misplaced.

    Desk jobs create fitness problems everywhere, because the bulk of your day is spent not moving. The most important thing you can do at a desk job to help stay fit is to never eat at your desk. Studies have shown that when you are distracted--by work, TV or reading--the body does not register the amount of calories you are eating, and so you just keep eating without feeling full.

    Another good idea, if your office allows it, is to replace your chair with a Physio-ball. Not a ball in a chair--that defeats the purpose. First, with the ball you will notice an improvement to your posture. Second, by sitting on a ball you are more likely to move around significantly while at your desk, not just jiggle your foot.

    Even with a ball though, your best way to burn a few calories is to actually get up from your desk and take a short walk around your office whenever you have a break in your work. Movement is the key, but whole body movement, not just one appendage.

    To summit a fitness or health/wellness question to Tori, email her at cihla@newsofthenorth.net. Confidentiality will be respected.