Tips To Keep You Active Through The Colder Months
- Written by Shani Kaplan
We get it- exercising when living in a cooler climate can be uninspiring. But healthy living isn’t just a summer body kind of thing. Movement is imperative and reduces risk of major illnesses like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes by up to 50% [1]. We all know that keeping active is crucial to longevity and feeling/looking great on a daily basis. We don’t just reach a fitness goal and stop altogether. Exercise needs to be maintained to get the benefits; so, it is time to set a new goal!
Yes, outside is miserable and gloomy… and a TV series binge-watch on the couch or drinks at the pub is more inviting. So, how can we help you get motivated to form those healthy habits?
Well, we have formulated some easy tips to rid of those excuses and stay consistent in the next few months…
#1 Get it done in the mornings
Find a gym near your office or work and get your workout completed nice and early. You’ll feel accomplished before the day has even begun. Furthermore; when it’s already dark so early in the afternoon and the clock finally ticks to home time, you can head straight there.
Handy tip- pack your bag the night before and lay your gym clothes out ready for the morning.
#2 Find a community vibe
We at Truth are all are firm believers of finding a class, gym or sport you LOVE. You will want to go there once you feel like you’re part of a team. The social aspect will make you enjoy the exercise more and make sure it doesn’t feel like a chore.
Our faves- martial arts, strength, dance and yoga classes
#3 Make a friend come with you
Having a gym buddy keeps you motivated as you can keep each other accountable. Instead of heading to the pub after work or during your lunch break for drinks, switch it up a few days of the week and convince a friend to jump into a quick class with you!
Having a friend join you will help you feel less nervous about trying a new class or gym and as a bonus, it’ll be more fun!
#4 Do a home workout
There are so many apps and programs on the market now that have been created by industry professionals. There are also many free workouts on YouTube and Instagram. Some are body weight, and some will require some light equipment, which may work out cheaper than a gym membership anyway! Your workouts don’t all need to be lengthy too.
Research shows short, high-intensity workout can be just as beneficial as a long workout for calorie expenditure.[2]
#5 Utilise those extra calories
It is the lead up to Christmas, indulging is inevitable. Despite the stigma attached though; calories simply equal energy. We are realistically eating much more food around this time of year. That is due to a combination of the extra social events in this period, and craving warming stodgy foods in the cold weather.
So, view that food as fuel and put it to good use in your workouts!
#6 Don’t feel guilty!
If you didn’t make it to the gym one day you had planned to, don’t throw in the towel(pardon the pun). Remember that this is a lifestyle, not a quick fix. If you want the benefits-set realistic goals. We suggest you aim for 3-5 sessions a week.
Another tip: keep active as much as you can in everyday life! Cleaning the house, walking the dog, taking the stairs- it all counts.
We hope these tips help you! Stay tuned for Thursday’s blog on Vitamin D by Dr Harry!
References
[1] Nhs.uk. (2018). Benefits of exercise. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2019].
[2] Beau Kjerulf Greer, Prawee Sirithienthad, Robert J. Moffatt, Richard T. Marcello, Lynn B. Panton. EPOC Comparison Between Isocaloric Bouts of Steady-State Aerobic, Intermittent Aerobic, and Resistance Training. (2015) doi: 10.1080/02701367.2014.999190. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25675374 [Accessed 2 Nov. 2019].
Shani Kaplan
Shani Kaplan is a contributing writer for Truth Origins. She combines her knowledge gained from working within the fitness/wellness industry in Sydney and London for the last seven years as a Personal Trainer, and class instructor, with her addiction to research due to her BA in Business Marketing. Shani loves martial arts, resistance training, dance and yoga, nutrition, travel, design, photography, and art.
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