5 Ways to Stay Fit During Winter

I have very little energy when it’s cold out. All I want to do is stay inside and read a book or watch a movie; exercise and fitness is the last thing on my mind. For me, there is no greater incentive to get in shape than summer. Who doesn’t want to look their best when it's warm out and everyone is at the beach. When it’s cold out and you have to wear layers, your physique is the last thing that you think about. Many of us just figure that once the weather gets warmer, we will get back into shape. However, health and fitness are year-round objectives. Here are 6 great tips to help you stay fit during the winter months.

1. Winter Sports

Perhaps the greatest upside to winter is having the option to play winter sports. Ice skating is an activity that is not only fun but can be a great workout and it helps improve balance. If you’re a hockey fan, the experience of playing hockey on a naturally frozen body of water is positively magical. Even just running around with friends, tossing snowballs at each other can be a great way to burn some calories.

2. Exercise at home and at work

When the weather is cold, it can be difficult to gather up the strength to go and drive to a gym, but there are many ways to work out even without having a lot of equipment. Try checking online for a workout video. For an added incentive to work out while at home, designate a space to act as a makeshift gym. When you’re on your break at work, try doing some light exercises. Push-ups exercise the pectoral muscles, triceps and anterior deltoids, and can be done virtually anywhere.

3. Watch your nutrition

Never underestimate the power of a healthy diet. When you eat well, you have more energy and feel happy. One great tip is to plan all your meals ahead of time. When you have a meal ready for you at the end of the day, you’re less likely to run out for fast food. No matter what the weather is like outside, what you put into your system is important to your overall health.

4. Buy new training/workout gear

If the weather is really bad and you are lacking in motivation, some new workout gear can be just the right thing to inspire you. If you like your workout clothes, you will be more inclined to wear them and workout. There are also many great wearable technology products that can help you monitor your progress and enhance your workout experience. Consider buying workout gear that’s designed for cold weather to encourage you to get up and go outside.

5. Stand up

I love relaxing on a bed or couch and watching my favorite TV shows and movies, but sitting for prolonged periods of time can be detrimental to your health. If you find that your favorite leisure activities involve long periods of sitting, make a point of standing up for a few minutes. A movie, TV show or sports game is just as enjoyable if you watch standing up. Another great tip is to either purchase or build your own standing desk. My lower back feels much better since I moved my laptop from a desk to the top of a dresser.

If you have any tips for how to stay fit during the months, feel free to leave them as a comment, we would love to hear them.