Make the Move to Indoor Fitness
For a lot of people, the year has two seasons: exercise and don’t exercise.
When it’s warm outside, they’ll get out and get fit. But once the temperatures drop, they flop… onto the couch until spring. And then they start the process all over again. The problem is, with each year that passes, that process of getting back into shape is harder and harder, and you’ll generally be healthier if you maintain at least some of your fitness over the winter.
To do that, though, you need a plan … and maybe a few tricks. Here’s some ideas to consider:
Don’t be a loner. Having workout partners will hold you accountable, and classes make exercise more social and fun.
Freshen up. Try a sport or exercise program you’ve never tried before. The novelty of learning and mastering something new will make the cold weeks pass faster.
Fake it till you make it. Don’t feel like working out? Get dressed, grab your equipment and head to the gym anyway. Odds are good that you’ll be motivated by the time you get there. As Indiana University exercise psychologist Jack Raglin says, “Once you start gearing up, you’re getting your head in the game.”
Dress the part … and then do it. Go a step further and put your exercise clothes on even before you plan to exercise. That way you’ll be ready to go first thing in the morning, and you won’t have to worry about trading warm jammies for cold gym clothes.
Get some new stuff. Buy some new equipment, a fresh set of workout clothes or something else. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you do need to get some toys or duds that will get you excited.
Make it quick. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to maintain some of that summer fitness. Raising your activity level for a short time delivers rewards, especially if you do it a few times a week.
Drink up. Working out in dry air can drain your body of fluids in a hurry. Be sure to stay hydrated.
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Tags: exercise, exercise in the cold, Indoor Fitness