How to Stay Motivated for Training During Winter
Keep Your Training High When the Temps are Low
It seems like every day during the winter months you wake up, snooze your alarm once, twice, then three times. You tell yourself you’d workout in the morning but all you want to do is stay in the comfort of your own warmth underneath your blankets. You know as soon as you get out of bed the cool, crisp air will hit you, and that doesn’t sounds appealing to you in the least bit. You stay in bed as long as possible until you’re forced to wake up and get ready for work. When you leave your house, it’s dark outside. You spend 8 hours at work and when you leave, it’s just as dark as it was when you left to go to work. You know summer bodies are made in the winter, but you question how people find motivation to get anything done this time of year, especially a workout. If this sounds like you, read on to figure out how to turn up the heat during these cold months and reach your goals in the New Year.
Get Out There
Get up, bundle up and get outside. My favorite gear for bracing the weather during winter consists of fleece leggings, thermal tops, vests, and headbands. My favorite items come from The North Face, Nike and of course the awesome Liv gear that can be picked up at my local bike shop. Both The North Face and Nike have great online sites that are perfectly laid out for you to find the gear you’re looking for depending on the time of day, weather, style and activity. Once you start running outside, you’ll get warmer the longer you’re out there and the harder you’re working. You have to get comfortable with getting a little uncomfortable; that’s the only way change happens. The only thing stopping you is yourself. Plus, no one has ever regretted a workout, right?
Stay Inside
If you don’t want to put on layers and layers of clothing to go outside and get a workout in, you have plenty of options to still break a sweat. You can easily stick to your training or workout schedule by staying inside and bringing up the heat. Here are some options:
- Try a Class! There are so many classes to try, no matter what city you live in. The options are endless. My favorites include spin class, aerial yoga, HIIT and yoga classes. Make a date with friends, so you’re more willing to go! Sure, you’ll have to go outside for a bit to get to the location, but I guarantee you’ll be happy you did it. Break out of your comfort zone and try something new.
- Indoor Trainer! An indoor trainer is a perfect solution when it’s too cold or too dark to ride outside. All you have to do is get dressed, strap on your shoes, clip in and you’re ready to ride. You can make it relaxing by watching your nightly TV shows, or you can get a great workout in by really pushing yourself. Think of all of the people you’re beating that are just sitting on the couch!
New Year’s Resolutions
Makes resolutions that you know you can stick to. Set yourself up for success, not failure. Don’t say, “I won’t have sweets for the entire year.” You want your goals to be SMART – Specific, Meaningful, Action Oriented, Realistic, and Timely.
Some of my fitness goals for 2016 are below:
- Workout at least 5 times a week
- Incorporate Yoga into my daily routine
- Meal Prep Every Sunday
- Drink at least 64oz of water daily
- Go to bed early
- Wake up for morning workouts
- Allow one “cheat” per week (if needed)
- Participate in at least one race per month
- Try at least one new class per month
- Dedicate an even amount of time towards cardio and lifting
Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. Make 2016 your best year yet! Tell us how you stay motivated by connecting with Liv on Twitter!