Winter weather can pose some risks to your health, even apart from the obvious things like colds, flu, and falls on the ice.

The cold air can dry and damage your skin and, even though it's cold outside, the winter sun can burn. It's important to moisturize your skin regularly and to use sunscreen whenever you plan to be outside for longer than 15-30 minutes (like while shovelling the walk). And don't forget the lip balm. Apply it several times a day. I've noticed that my hands are extra dry this year. Keep some hand lotion in your desk and apply several times a day. If it's really bad, you may want to consider a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist.

It can be very challenging to eat healthy meals during the winter. Generally, you're spending more time inside — close to the food. The selection of fresh fruits and vegetables isn't quite as good and the prices are higher. Plus, you really want to eat comfort foods that warm you inside and out. Of course, those foods are rarely the healthiest of choices. You might want to try frozen vegetables. They are frozen at the peak of flavor and they are as nutritionally sound as fresh. Put those frozen veggies into a nice warming soup. You can add them to store-bought low sodium broth if you don't have homemade. Add some aromatics (think onions, garlic, scallions, etc.) plus some barley and you have a healthy and nutritious meal. Also, try to avoid buying things that are bad for you. That way, you only have to resist temptation once — at the store — not several times a day in your home. If you really want something sweet, keep the ingredients for your favorite cookie on hand or the ingredients for homemade pizza dough. If you REALLY want it, you'll be willing to take the time to bake. If you aren't, do you REALLY want the cookie/pizza?

Finally, for most people, winter plays havoc with your workout regimen. My go-to exercise is running. I hate treadmills, so I prefer to run outside. Of course, during the winter, outdoor runs are a challenge. All too often, sidewalks and running paths are covered with snow and ice. Late sunrises and early sunsets make it hard to get a run in before or after work. There are a few options for working out. First, you can join a gym and use its facilities. When the weather is bad, the news year's resolution crowd may be less likely to show up, making it  easier to get a machine, a weight bench, or a spot in a class. You can also workout at home if you have some basic equipment like weights and a mat. Even with just a mat, you can do body weight exercises like squats, crunches, pushups, planks, and wall sits. If you need to add extra weight, grab a few jugs of something (like liquid detergent) from atound the house to use as your weights. A workout DVD can be a big help with home workouts. My cable system offers a variety of fun and challenging workouts through their on demand system. Finally, you will need to use good days wisely. If you have decent weather on a weekend, you can wear appropriately layered workout clothes and get out there.

How do you take care of yourself in the winter?