Lack of energy and lack of motivation are very common in winter. This article is all about being aware that summer bodies are built in winter and how to get you out of the ‘winter blues’.

Temperatures have dropped and as temperatures drop, often our motivation to keep fit drops as well. Although spring seems like a long time away, it will be around the corner before you know it! Time flies and so do these few months of colder weather.

A big step ahead

People who keep their fitness levels up during winter are a big step ahead of the people who go into hibernation mode.

It is very easy to go into hibernation mode and I know that staying in bed on a dark and cold morning can be very tempting!

Being inactive will definitely affect your cardio and fitness levels. It’s good to know though that in general, your strength and cardio levels decrease slower than most people think. Although cardio levels decrease quicker than strength, it is easier to build back up again.

Less exercising and hibernation mode often go hand in hand with an unhealthier diet. Keep in mind that being inactive and bad nutrition can result in fast weight gain.

If you can keep your fitness routine up during these tough winter months, you’ll be a big step ahead of all those people who didn’t.

How to keep it up

There are a lot of things that you can do that will help you to get through these winter months as healthy and actively as possible.

Goals

Set your training goals, both short and long term. For example what do you intend to achieve this week in terms of training sessions? And what would you like to achieve by the end of winter?

Routine

Routine is key! Once you know your goals, put a workout plan together. Make sure the plan is sufficient so it will make you reach your goals. Make sure that your plan is achievable.

Tips for waking up

If you’re an early morning exerciser then you will probably know that getting out of bed is the hardest bit. Check out here some tips which help you to make waking up easier.

The right gear

If you like outdoor training and you want to keep this up in winter, make sure that you have the right gear to exercise. The right clothing will make you feel comfortable and will make a big difference. Check out some tips about which winter workout gear to use.

Make it work

Make changes to your routine to make it work. If you’re not managing to get out of bed in the morning to exercise, change your routine and pick another time which will work better for you. If you’re not managing the cold and can’t get yourself into outdoor training, change your routine and keep active by doing something else for a little while. You can make every change, and you should, making sure that you’re on your way to reaching your goals.

Nutrition

Stay on top of your diet. If you feel that you’re exercising less than usual, make sure that you change your nutritional intake. Keep your nutritional expenditure and intake in balance.

You’ve probably heard the following things a zillion times but it is good to keep reminding yourself that:

• You’ll feel so much better after completing a workout. Exercising is great for keeping your head clear and will improve your quality of life in every aspect.
• Once you start working out, you’ll be warm in no time.
• There is nothing better than starting the day with some fresh air, watching the sun come up and maybe even spotting a whale.
• You don’t want to start all over again once spring starts. You’ll be a massive step ahead of the big horde who didn’t stay fit during winter!