Winter Fitness And Motivation
Winter Fitness And Motivation
It is definitely harder to stay motivated to exercise in the colder months.
It lends itself to convincing excuses for not sticking to your fitness routine and hence the reason why we pack on a little extra weight. It’s great to stay in bed, snuggled up for as long as we can in the morning. Before you know it, there’s not enough time to squeeze in the gym or morning run before work.
So here are six top tips for keeping you motivated and not miss out on your exercise routine through the colder days of the year:
1. Maintain your vitamin D
Try to get outdoors to exercise or during your lunch hour and get some sun, absorb the warmth and most important vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for bone health since it helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. Recent research also suggests it may have other benefits, such as protecting against colds and fighting depression. Your state of mind influences your motivation and your productivity, the more reason to get outdoors to exercise and get your dose of vitamin D.
2. Exercise outdoors
The benefits of outdoor training are proving far more beneficial than we think.
- Boosts your mood/ productivity
- Escape indoor boredom
- Improves cardio and strength at once
- Increases balance and flexibility
3. Dress for outdoors
Try a synthetic layer to draw moisture from the body. Add a fleecy layer to insulate and then finish off with light, water repellent/wind resistant outer layer. Layers are a great idea because you’ll find as you warm up you can easily remove some of the layers.
4. Get a new playlist
A new playlist on your phone will get you motivated before you step foot outside the door. Start listening to the new music and get pumped up before you face the cold outside. It works wonders to get you all worked up and you’ll brave the worst cold without even noticing too much.
5. Drink Herbal Tea
Tea is great for detoxing and improving metabolism. Some great ones are; white, oolong and green tea. These teas help you burn fat and boost your metabolism.
6. Lay off the carbs
Instead substitute them with slow cooked meats with lots of fresh vegetables and or salads. These are great to keep you warm in winter.
Have everything ready for your morning jog, runners by the side of your bed and your jacket near the door. It’s a great feeling as you start running and peel off the layers as your body warms up and the elation increases as your endorphins start kicking in. Once you start and persevere with your routine through winter, you’ll feel proud of yourself and will look great through the winter months.
