Are you guilty of slipping into bad habits during Winter? If you answered yes, you’re in the right spot. Fewer daylight hours and the cooler temperatures can play a major factor in not sticking to your healthy routine. It so hard to slip into hibernation mode in Winter. Before you know it, your healthy diet is switched for chocolate or take-out and being fit is nothing but a memory. There’s no doubt it can be tough, so we have put together a few tips and tricks to ensure you stay as active and as healthy as possible this Winter.
New Workout Gear
Edith Head once said, "You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.". So, does this mean wearing nice workout gear equals a nice, healthy body? Unfortunately, not exactly. However, it can assist by getting you in the mood for a workout. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests “clothing plays a role in affecting an individual’s behaviours and attitudes because it carries a symbolic meaning”. Science says clothing will change your mood and behaviour - So now you have a good reason to go buy that new gym gear. Everyone loves the feeling of new gym gear and there is no doubt it will get you in the mood for a workout… you got to show it off somewhere, Right?!
Get a Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers have been people’s go to work-out buddies for years now and the amount of people owning a fitness tracking is rapidly increasing year on year. In 2016 PWC released a study that stated, “half of Australians own a fitness tracker”. If your part of the half who doesn’t own a tracker, you might want to think of changing sides. Fitbit is probably one of the more popular brands and has some of the best fitness trackers on the market. The Fitbit Charge 2 is a fantastic choice, as it is stylish and is equipped with some great features. There is a long list of reasons as to how a fitness tracker can help improve your health and lifestyle, whilst also keeping you motivated. Pretty much every fitness tracker contains an accelerometer, which counts the numbers of steps you take. It is said the daily step goal for an adult is 10,000. Having your step count visible on your wrist will keep you on track and motivate you to reach your daily goal. Most fitness trackers have interchangeable bands too – so you can match your tracker and gym outfit with a simple band swap. Some fitness trackers like Fitbit also allow you to connect with friends and compete with each other in different challenges – you’ll probably be so focused on winning and having so much fun, you’ll forget that your exercising!
Join Classes or Buddy Up
Surround yourself with people who are also determined to stay active during Winter. Many gyms offer a wide range of classes for all fitness levels. Having classes available means you don’t have to do any thinking either. All you need to do is show up – it’s as easy as that! You could also try and buddy up with a friend – it’s great to have a friend by your side and to encourage each other. Whilst you’re catching up and having a laugh, you’re also staying healthy. It’s also a handy trick to make time pass quickly! Finding a class or buddy you love exercising with, will make it easier to exercise on a more regular basis.
Exercise at Home
Nobody wants to leave the house on a cold, rainy, winters day to go exercise. An alternative that involves the comfort of your own home is to simply complete some household tasks. Although it won’t be as intense as a 30-minute gym class, you’d be surprised at how many calories you can burn! Household chores will give you some light to medium physical activity for the day, a lot better than sitting around watching TV. It is said vacuuming alone can burn 90 calories in half an hour – not bad for something that needed to be done anyway!
Have a Plan and Stick to It
A sports team doesn’t enter a grand final without a game plan, so why would you try tackle trying to stay healthy in Winter without one?
Getting through Winter without also gaining a few too many kilos, is nearly impossible. To motivate you to stick to your healthy diet, you need to have a plan.
There are numerous ways you can do this and depending on your specific goal your plan will vary. First set your main goal. Let’s take “Don’t gain weight during Winter” as an example. Starting a food diary would be a great way to stay on track to achieve this goal, as it encourages you to eat healthier. Several studies have shown people who keep food diaries are more likely to lose weight and keep it off. Keeping a food diary is so simple – just simply write down everything you eat, each day. This will increase your awareness of what and how much you’re eating. This is a fantastic plan and easy to do!
Remember Why You Started
This has got to be one of the biggest motivators… always remember why you started. Constantly reminding yourself and looking back at how far you’ve come is a great motivator to get out of bed on those winter mornings. Stay focused and committed to your goals, and you can achieve anything. Just remember…The longer you don’t exercise for, the harder it will be to gain your level of fitness back.
It is so easy to lose interest in staying fit and healthy in general. Adding cold winter weather into the mix makes it even harder! There are many ways to stay motivated to stay active this Winter – some of our ideas may even open you up to try something new. You just need to figure out what works best for you!