How to stay motivated to exercise in winter

1. Be careful who you follow

Try this:

Try to find accounts of local people who are working out in similar conditions and at similar times of day to you and you’ll feel far more inspired.

2. Have an answer for every excuse

Try this:

Excuse: "It's grey outside" Tell yourself: “But it’s not raining!” Or maybe it is drizzling. Then you think, “It could be snowing!”

Excuse: "It's too dark" Tell yourself: "I'll do an inside-based workout today, and plan a run outdoors at the weekend when I can go in daylight."

Excuse: "I think I'm getting a cold" Tell yourself: "But I haven't got one yet – and a cold comes from a virus, not from a gentle jog."

3. Pay yourself with new treats

Try this

Reward yourself – if you get up and go to that 7am spinning class twice in one week, give yourself a prize. Decide on your reward at the beginning of the week – it might be a new book or something more indulgent such as a massage. Make sure it’s a prize, though, and not something you know you would have bought anyway.

4. Update your workout wardrobe

Try this:

Updating your kit for winter needn’t be expensive but if you want to get outside to exercise and the cold is the main thing putting you off, some choice accessories will really help.

5. Maximise your music

Try this:

Better The Devil You Know, by Kylie Minogue

Born This Way, by Lady Gaga

I Really Like You, by Carly Rae

Encore, by Jay Z / Linkin Park

Jump Around, by House Of Pain

6. Eat for success: swap potatoes for root veg

Try this:

As personal trainer Lindsay McCubbin, explains: “Changing your diet from starchy and high-sugar foods to more protein and seasonal root vegetables will increase your energy levels, giving you the lift to want to exercise. Make healthy soups and up your protein intake with nutritious casseroles and stews.”

7. Ignore the cake-pushers

Try this:

There will always be people telling you not to go. “Oh, you’re crazy!” they’ll say when they see you in your exercise gear. “It’s nearly Christmas, come and have a coffee instead.” BE STRONG. These people – friends, colleagues, countrymen – mean no harm (although sometimes they may be a bit jealous of your commitment) but they can send you right off track.

8. Make a 10-minute deal with yourself

Try this:

Chris Kirk of CKElite Personal Training suggests doing 20 seconds of each of the following exercises, with a five-second rest in between, for a total of 10 minutes:

Star jumps

Squats

Split Lunges

Squat Star Jumps

Jumping Jacks

9. Get ready to disco

Try this:

Download 30 minutes of your favorite dancing songs on your Ipod

Close the curtains (or not)

Dance like an idiot

To read this article in its entirety, please click on the link below.

http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/how-to-stay-motivated-to-exercise-in-winter-workout-fitness-wellness-cold

#winter #exercise