Winter is the hardest time of year to stay motivated to workout and keep up with your fitness goals. It's cold, dark, and its sweater weather! We get into the mindset that "it's winter, and we have so much time before we need to start to get that bikini body." Continue reading for 4 ways to beat the winter workout blues this season!
Eat Good = Feel Good
When we eat better, our bodies tend to feel better. We all know how tempting it is to eat comfort food during these cold and snowy months. However, it is important to consume as many fruits and vegetables as possible. If you are trying to fight winter depression, this is the best way to go. It has been shown that the food we eat has a direct relation to mental health. Those who eat a more Mediterranean diet have a better mental state than those who eat a more western one. By consuming healthier meals, your body will feel lighter and have much more energy. This can give you the motivation needed to head to the gym or do a quick jog around the block. Physical and mental states go hand-in-hand with fitness. If you are dedicated to being fit overall, your body will thank you. During the holidays, we are unconcerned with our eating habits because as stated, it's "the holidays." Our bodies are hyped up on massive amounts of sugar and carbohydrates that once the holidays are over, we have a lack of incentive to stay fit and seasonal depression can set in. This is what allows us to not want to workout. Eating right is your first step to combat winter workout blues.
Enjoyable Workouts
Yes, there is a such thing as an enjoyable workout. Simply find activities that you like to do. Maybe going to the gym is not your favorite thing to do, but there are plenty of other activities you can participate in. Some gyms offer special classes like Zumba, Pilates, kickboxing, and more. Most of the time, they are free with your membership. If you are excited about the activity, working out will not seem like a chore, but a fun break. Working out can even be one of your favorite hobbies like walking your dog or hiking. Anything you like to do that does not involve sitting on the couch, is exercise. Working out is a great way to fight depression or workout blues. Exercising on the regular can make you a happier person because of the flood of endorphins that releases through the body. If you are enjoying the workout, you are likely to perform longer, making you burn more calories and fat. A great workout session can also increase your energy for the day. These rewarding feelings after your workout should be enough to convince you to fight those workout blues.
Bring A Friend
Partners are a vital asset to staying on top of fitness. When you are both serious about fitness, you help each other out. You end up motivating each other, even during those extra cold days. You may want to stay in bed under the covers, but a text from your workout buddy can really help you to get moving. They hold you more accountable, so you feel more obligated to keep training. Knowing that you have someone relying on you makes it much more harder to back out from your planned workout session. You can also help each other set goals. Small weekly goals that you can both keep up with of course. Outside of gym time, it may be hard to keep up with fitness, but communicating in between can help with this. Making sure you are both fitting in healthy meals and other healthy habits can be a great benefit to help you workout blues.
Think About The Benefits
Realizing the benefits of that winter workout can boost your motivation factor. When it's freezing outside, a good workout can be just the thing to warm you up. The more muscles you use during a workout, the faster your body produces heat. Your body will also sweat to keep your temperature regular in the cold. Working out can also help prevent muscle stiffness in the cold weather. During the winter, you are more likely to catch a cold or other illness. However if you workout regularly, you can actually help boost your immune system. Exercising promotes the creation of white blood cells which helps your body to fight off infection. Being healthy can increase and help you during the cold times. Lastly, working out can improve your body and mind. Your winter workout blues will be gone if you think about all the rewards.
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-Franki
