When it’s a winter wonderland outside or the mercury dips below those inspiring temperatures that just make you want to get out of the house, it may be difficult to find the motivation or even the right way to keep up a good exercise/workout routine when Jack Frost is parked right outside your door.
But by changing your approach and using the right techniques, you can maintain your regimen right through the cold months and not have to worry about the struggles and pains – not to mention trying to muster the motivation – of getting back into shape when spring finally arrives.
Here are some tips that can help you stay fit when Old Man Winter comes for an extended visit:
- In-home fitness equipment. No matter how bleak and blustery it is outside, you can maintain a good routine with fitness equipment at home. And there are many types of equipment to fit every routine and lifestyle. Ellipticals, treadmills, indoor bikes, rowing machines, lateral trainers, free weights, and home gyms are some of the options. At totalfitnessequipment.com, we offer a full range of in-home fitness equipment that can help you stay in shape during the winter months and augment your training even when summer comes.
- Embrace the cold. When you peek outside and see the snow falling and the mercury has dipped below your comfort zone, your first instinct may be to just pour another cup of hot cocoa and settle in with a good book. But cold-weather exercise can be invigorating and healthy. And there are many winter activities to choose from, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. Just running in the snow can be a great workout. But if it’s below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, don’t attempt to exercise outside.
- Prepare for a cold-weather workout. Cold-weather exercise cannot be approached the same way as exercise is milder temperatures. The colder it is outside, the longer your warmup should be. Do a strenuous warmup inside before you venture out. Also, dress as if it’s 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it actually is. Your core temperature will increase as you are moving, and you need to take that into consideration. Dress in layers, and keep your extremities warm.
- Stay hydrated. We tend to drink less in the wintertime, but hydration is no less important. You might not sweat as much as you would on an 85-degree day, but the dry winter air sucks the moisture out of your body.
- Try something different. To stay motivated during the cold months, change your routine. Try something different. Change your playlist. This will engage your mind as well as your body. If there is something you’ve wanted to try but haven’t, now is the perfect time.
You can escape that winter rut and keep yourself in shape. With just a few adjustments, you can avoid the winter doldrums and be ready to hit the ground running when spring arrives.