6 Ways To Stay In Shape During The Winter Months

6 Ways To Stay In Shape During The Winter Months

The cold season brings a lot of obstacles to your fitness journey. But with these tips, you’ll easily manage to stay in shape during winter.

Winter is the worst season when it comes to working out. But if you implement these tips you might be able to stay in shape.

As winter approaches, we’ve got a lot to think about. The holiday season, preparations, celebrations with the family … and who can forget all of the good food?

One thing we don’t think about enough is keeping consistent with our workout routines.

Our quest for health and fitness is much more of a marathon than a sprint. Success in your workout routine is the result of many small steps taken in the right direction, not a giant leap.

Winter months tend to bring a lot of obstacles to our journey. But we’re here to discuss a few ways to overcome them in order to stay in shape during the cold months.

How To Stay In Shape During Winter

Exercising during the winter can be tough, but it’s definitely doable.

How To Stay In Shape In Winter?

Here are six simple ways to stay in shape this winter:

1. Switch Up Your Routine

Variety is the spice of life. There’s no better way to stick to your workout routine than to challenge yourself with an altogether new exercise, routine, or sport!

If you are looking for something challenging, fun, and fresh, boxing training is a great place to start!

If you have been performed the same exercises, in the same order, with the same weights for months or even years every day … it’s only a matter of time before your routine becomes mind-numbingly boring.

Boredom kills your motivation, and it has no place in your workout routine.

As humans, we are thrilled by the feeling of novelty or something new and exciting. Taking on new challenges gives you something to get excited about.

It’s that little extra push that you need to grab your running shoes or your boxing gloves and head to the gym — as opposed to coming home and lying on the couch after work.

How To Stay In Shape During Winter - Switch Up Your Routine

Try something you’ve never tried. Like boxing.

2. Switch Up Your Timing

Not only should you consider switching up your workout routine, but you should also consider switching up the time of day you work out.

For most of us, winter brings excitement and joy of the holidays.

Depending on where you live, however, winter can also bring depression and lack of motivation. This is known as a seasonal affective disorder or winter depression.

Studies have shown that some people are sensitive to the lack of sunlight they are subjected to during the winter months. When it’s dark out in the afternoon after you get off of work, it’s easy to throw in the towel.

One way to work around this is to wake up earlier and get your workout in before going to work.

During winter months, the sun rises “earlier” (because our clocks “fall back” at the end of daylight saving time). Take advantage of this and start your day off earlier also.

A morning workout energizes your body and prepares you for a challenging day — give it a shot!

3. Set A Goal For Yourself

If you don’t know where you’re going, you may not get anywhere!

You should come into every workout with a short-term goal in mind and have long-term goals in mind also.

Maybe you haven’t been setting goals for yourself, but the winter months are a great time to start practicing the habit.

Make sure to tell others around you about your goals also; it helps to make you accountable. Nobody wants to look like a hypocrite, so make sure that others know what you have in mind; it keeps you honest.

The holidays and fitness goals don’t always mix. Each holiday and the days surrounding them bring numerous opportunities to skip training, to be sedentary, and to feast on delicious foods.

Think of your goals as a good conscience in the back of your mind that is struggling to keep you on track. Set some goals, and always be mindful of them.

4. Reward Yourself For Reaching Your Goals

Set some challenging yet realistic goals, and make sure to reward yourself for meeting them!

If you’ve made it to the gym every day of your holiday week, you have earned that slice of your aunt’s pecan pie at Thanksgiving dinner. Your aunt will appreciate it, and you will enjoy patting yourself on the back for a job well done. Also, there will be pie.

How To Stay In Shape During Winter - Stay Warm

Enjoy the winter, but don’t forget to stay warm.

5. Stay Warm

Studies have proven that exercising in cold weather can lead to various challenges, including frostbite and hypothermia.

Depending on your location, the winter months can definitely cool down. It’s hard to imagine getting in a great workout when you’re nearly frostbitten, so take precautions! Make sure to dress appropriately for cooler temperatures.

Most of all, don’t forget to use plenty of layers, as opposed to a thick or heavy winter coat. By adding layers, you can simply remove them as the day heats up or as you start to work out.

Thermal fabrics work well to trap heat in and keep your muscles warm as you work out.

Another great way to retain heat is to make sure to eat something a couple of hours before working out.

Have you ever noticed that you feel cold after not eating for a few hours? Your metabolism burns calories as heat, which helps to keep your body warm during those blistering workouts.

6. Compete

Would you like to push your limits and figure out what you are capable of? Sign up for a competition during the winter months.

Competition drives all of us; it’s why we are able to enjoy many of the products and services that we have today.

It’s also the reason why you see the entire world get together for a friendly competition during the Olympic games every couple of years.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to prove that you are the best.

When you develop tunnel vision and a major drive to compete, the obstacles that winter months present seem like minor details.

Hopefully, these tips will help you stay in shape during the winter season, while, at the same time, enjoying the pleasures of the holiday.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments