PREP YOUR BODY FOR THE SLOPES.
Skiing may be an escape—invigorating and relaxing—but without the proper prep work, indulgence may turn to injury (and that can’t-quite-walk-right soreness).
Without an aerobic base, skiing for even a straight minute can be exhausting, attests Laurenne Ross, a U.S. Olympic alpine ski racer. “I like to have fun while keeping my cardio up. I go mountain biking a lot—usually for between one and three hours. It builds a lot of leg strength too,” she says. “There are some similar aspects to skiing.”
PRACTICE YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS.
“My husband and I were planning a trip to Spain pre-COVID that we would like to reschedule when it's appropriate and available,” says Cathy Prince, fitness manager at Century City in California. In the meantime, Prince is preparing for her travels by practicing Spanish every day on Duolingo.
“I traveled there in high school and have been longing to go back. The arts, culture, and passion for life really spoke to me then and I feel like it would resonate even more now.”
MASTER ROAST CHICKEN.
Though it looks impressive, roast chicken is extremely easy to prepare and can be customized with all sorts of flavor profiles. This winter, master the dish, adding different seasonings each time. “Rub with garlic and olive oil and add classic spices like rosemary and thyme one day, use a Moroccan spice blend another day, or make it sweet and savory by seasoning with star anise, cinnamon, and salt,” says New York City–based registered dietitian Marissa Lippert. Here, a basic recipe to get you started (you could save some extra meat for Sunday’s chile rellenos).