It’s much harder to stay fit in winter than summer. When the weather outside is warm, it’s always tempting to go for a walk and be outside, and since walking is a great way to get exercise, you’re almost staying fit without even realising it.
However, when it gets colder, the temptation is to stay indoors with a hot drink, and that’s when your fitness might fall by the wayside. There’s no shame in it whatsoever, but if you do want to keep your fitness up during the colder months, we’re here to help. Here are our top tips for staying fit in the winter!
Try to get outside for a walk
We know that being outside in the cold weather isn’t many people’s idea of a good time, but it’s healthy to try and do so. If you can get outdoors for just 30 minutes per day, you’ll seriously improve your physical and mental health. Bundle up and wrap up warm in lots of layers, but make sure you don’t overdo it. While you’re walking, you’ll generate heat, keeping your body warmer than it would be if you simply stayed still. If you’re wearing too many layers, you could make yourself uncomfortable, so if you do go for a walk outside, make sure you get the balance right!
Get some indoor fitness equipment
If you’ve got a roomy enough house or flat, then why not use the winter as an opportunity to buy yourself some new fitness equipment? Picking up £1000 loans should be more than enough to get yourself a treadmill or an exercise bike, for example, and then you can pay the loan off in increments so that the cost of the equipment isn’t quite so harsh at first. Fitness equipment can seriously help to motivate you when you’re not feeling up to exercise, and hey, you can always watch a show or listen to a podcast while you’re working out.
Try some YouTube fitness tutorials
YouTube truly is a wondrous resource. During the 2020 lockdown, many people turned to YouTube for their fitness needs; after all, with many of us stuck indoors, getting outside to exercise was harder. There’s no reason to turn your back on this resource now that exercising outdoors is easier, though, especially during the winter months. There are millions of videos on YouTube that offer free fitness workouts, so if you’re looking for a way to stay fit without breaking the bank or leaving your house, YouTube should provide.
Recruit some friends or family to exercise with you
Working out is always a less painful experience if you recruit others to do it with you. If you know someone else who’s looking to get fitter this winter, then why not ask them if they’d like to start exercising together? Beginner workouts are a lot easier if you’ve got someone to spot you, too, so you’re less likely to make mistakes if you’re completely new to working out. Mention that you’ve decided to start a new exercise routine and see if anyone you’re close to jumps at the chance to join you. If not, just ask if anybody would like to come along for the ride!
Get a gym membership
The gym can sometimes be a scary and intimidating place, but if your schedule allows you to take an hour or two out of every day to visit the gym, it’s a good idea to do so. We’ve often found that having a dedicated space for exercise makes us more motivated; if we’re working out in our homes, we find ourselves just a little too easily distracted. However, being at the gym gives us a space where there really is nothing else to do but exercise, and that helps to keep us on the straight and narrow. You may find the same if you pick up a gym membership.
Try some little things to increase your exercise
If you find that your schedule really is too hectic to accommodate an entire exercise regime, then there are lots of ways you can alter your routine in order to incorporate a little more movement. Try taking the stairs instead of the escalator or the lift, for example. Walk one more bus stop or train stop if the distance isn’t too great. Over time, these smaller decisions will add up. You may even find that you’re willing to do more exercise as you get fitter. There are almost always things you can do to increase the amount of exercise you’re getting in your daily life.
Make some improvements to your diet
The balance between exercise and diet when it comes to achieving fitness has long been misunderstood by many. People often think they can simply take up jogging, then eat whatever they want, but this simply isn’t the case. A healthy, nutritious and balanced diet is at least as important as getting regular exercise, and many think it’s more important. Make sure that all of your meals contain the right nutrients and that you’re not simply defaulting to unhealthy food every night. Taking up cooking, if you’re not already doing so, is a great way to start.
Set yourself some goals
It’s easy to lose track of your fitness journey if you don’t have an eventual goal in mind. That’s why it’s a good idea to set goals for yourself at the outset. Bear in mind, though, that setting a weight goal isn’t always the right way to go. You might want to lose weight, but it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about a healthy body. As such, it can help to get a consultation with a professional beforehand, so they can tell you exactly what changes you need to make. Obsessing over the scales isn’t healthy, and it could actually harm your fitness journey in the long run.
