* Whether you're a beginner or an advanced
skier, you will be getting a great
cardiovascular workout
* You can burn up to 3,000 calories during a
typical day of 6 hours skiing and lose up to
5lbs a week if you combine the exercise with
sensible eating. The steeper the slope, the
more calories you'll burn as your body has to
work harder to keep balanced. Also, by being
exposed to sub-zero temperatures, your
body is forced to raise its own
temperature by burning off more calories
* To help balance yourself as you ski, you naturally engage the core stability muscles -
the band of deep muscle that starts either side of your spine and runs around your
body, ending in your pelvic region. These are the key stomach muscles which, when
strengthened, help tone the stomach
* Skiing works all the major muscle groups and is great for toning all those areas -
notably hips, thighs, abs and arms - women, in particular, love to hate!
* It's also a great stress-buster. Your mind is totally focused on the moment and when
everything goes right, there's a massive buzz of achievement.
HOW TO STAY FIT ON THE SLOPES
* Keep the body hydrated by drinking one glass of water for every hour of skiing
* Eat sensibly to maintain energy. For lunch, aim for slow-releasing carbohydrates such
as pasta, with a little protein
* Build up gradually and take it easy. Once your strength grows, you can begin to go
faster
* Use hot showers or saunas to ease tired muscles
* Warm up and down by stretching your muscles gently - this will help avoid muscle
soreness and minor strains
* The higher you go, the greater the risk of sunburn because there is less atmosphere to
filter the UV rays. Snow also reflects 85% of the sun's harmful UV rays which can then
hit the body at odd angles, such as under the chin. Always wear a high factor sunscreen
or total sunblock, even on cloudy days