The winter months can be a tough time to work out. This time of year will challenge all of your senses and dangles every goodie in front of you. The weather turns colder and some of us must deal with rain, show, sleet and ice. Regardless of where you live, wintertime can affect your fitness goals.
You shouldn’t let winter deter you however. There are options. You can still move your body, eat nutritious foods, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep. You just need to be a little clever and think outside the box. Your daily routine that works during the warmer months might need to be altered during the winter months.
Dress Warmly
Wherever you go, realize the weather is anywhere from cooler to very cold. Plan your wardrobe accordingly. Don’t leave the house to go to the gym and wear a wind breaker. Wear your winter sweater or coat. Put on layers. You can always take a layer off. If you don’t put layers on you don’t have them to take off. Leave an extra gym bag in your car with a change of clothes. Put an extra hoodie in the bag so you are prepared.
Prepare for the Outdoors
If you want to keep your outdoor exercise activities throughout the winter you need to prepare for it. If you’re going for a walk or run, check the weather, and wear appropriate clothing. Again, layers can help a lot. You can take off your jacket after you’ve hit your stride. Do extra warm ups for your outdoor activities. The colder weather can challenge your muscles and joints. Choose your running courses wisely!
Do More Indoor Activities
The easiest solution for the winter is to do more indoor fitness activities. Do more days in the gym. If you normally do three days a week in the gym, add a fourth day until the weather warms up. Try new activities you don’t normally do. If you don’t normally take full body circuit classes, sign up for classes during the winter. Try swimming at the local YMCA. Learn to jump rope. Play basketball. Try yoga. The winter months can help you expand your routines and add new fitness activities to round out your repertoire.
Exercise at Home
Another solution is to do more exercise in the comfort of your home. The home fitness equipment for sale today is excellent. You can put a treadmill or elliptical machine in your home for an affordable price. Keep your three days a week at the studio but add in a fourth or fifth day at home. You may need to have a designated room for your fitness activities. Some people find it hard to exercise at home because of all the distractions. Set up your exercise area and decide what activities you’re going to do. Invite a friend over to workout with you. Your exercise buddy can help you adjust to home workouts.
No Excuses
The key to winter exercise is to not make excuses. It’s cold for everybody. Everybody deals with the same weather. Don’t use excuses not to exercise. Find solid reasons to commit to your exercise routine. Your mental workouts are as important as your physical workouts. Stay strong and stay committed. If something isn’t working than shift. Work with each day as it comes and meet the challenges.
