When it snows, go outside and play. While cross–country skiing and snowshoe walking are well known calorie burners, winter welcomes other recreations that foster fun and fitness. Break a sweat with these surprising icy activities that leave you feeling energized.

• Snowball fight: Throw on the mittens and find a snowdrift. A good snowball fight can exert your entire body. Darting to and fro works your cardiovascular system, while the dodging and ducking send your legs, back, and hips into overtime. And hurling the frozen spheres back and forth will likely lead to laughter, which engages your abs and boosts endorphins.

• Sledding: Every time you trudge up the hill, you tax your heart and lower body. Plus, staying upright down the slope requires more than just hanging on; your core must perform frequent stabilization movements to maintain control.

• Ice–skating: Akin to the in-line skating, the winter version will have you gliding to firmer muscles… should you stay on your feet long enough to reap the aerobic benefits. Insert short spurts into your whirl around the rink, and you’ll enhance the overall metabolic rewards while steeling up your thighs.