During the cold weather snap we tend to burrow into our warm homes and eat comfort foods. It’s like reverse hibernating where we stay in but eat more compared with our mammal cousins who eat more before hibernating, and then sleep it off through the winter, awakening thin (albeit hungry!) in the Spring. This is the time period when you really have to grab onto will power to keep exercise appointments and control eating. I usually put on five to seven pounds during the winter season just because it’s harder to be active. Less walking as I find ways to avoid the cold, and the holiday eating season are the biggest culprits, but because of my lifestyle and my focus on portions, I’m able to maintain the gain to an acceptable range until the warmer months kick in.
Invest in some fun exercise videos and/or exercise toys to keep you motivated when the snow hits the ground and you can’t make it to the gym! In future blogs I will discuss my favorite toys which include stability balls, medicine balls, tubing and weights. For the more adventurous there’s the rebounding trampoline, a small trampoline with a video workout that guides you through various jump routines for a cardio kick. It’s fun and effective! Invest in a treadmill to keep your workouts both meaningful and purposeful. I find that working out with music not only helps one keep a pace, but it can also be a distraction that allows you to run further and harder.
The other day I discovered the Wii game system’s “Just Dance” exercise game and boy did I get a workout! The diversity of music and dance moves had me sweating in the first five minutes! Not only that, but I’ve memorized the dance moves for my next dance night out!
Make that expensive cable television service work for you by using the on-demand fitness offerings. They can range from bhangra dance, to belly dancing, to kick boxing and yoga. And all of this is available in the comfort of your home.
Maintaining a routine in the worst of conditions will strengthen your resolve when the exercise environment is more pleasant. You become vested in your workout appointments which are how they become part of your lifestyle. Surely with resolve, perseverance and a little investment, you can find ways to overcome the difficult moments to keep your healthy lifestyle on course! Stay warm!!