Winter workout survival

1. Bright Light- this lifts your mood and encourages positive thoughts. It will energize you first thing in the morning.2. Let out the child within- when you were a kid, the cold didn’t matter, and you would get excited as anything about the leaves on the ground or the snow falling. Channel that inner child by taking the time to observe your environment and find a way to play accordingly. All movement is good movement. Don’t forget winter sports teams!3. Sleep in your workout cloths!- That way you can keep that warm feeling and all you need to do is chuck on a jumper, grab the keys, and head out the door, instead of having to get changed and let the cold winter air touch your skin. Reward yourself with a hot bath that night.4. Afternoon commitments make you sleepy as it gets darker?- Take your gym gear with you, and head straight to the gym afterward, it doesn’t matter if all you do when your there is a half hour on the treadmill, you went!5. Enjoy the great indoors! – Youtube D.I.Y yoga or pilate’s and get busy on the lounge or bedroom floor.6. Pump up the music!- make a CD of music that gets you singing in the car, dancing with the vacuum, and feeling confident and play it a half hour before you plan to go to the gym and continue it on your Ipod while you’r there.7. Guilt trip…. Yourself- Just got home? Going to seed on the couch with the “I can’t be bothered’s?” Ask yourself “what’s stopping me going to the gym right now?”… If you can come up with an answer challenge it! i.e. “my gym cloths are in the wash.” Solution: get a second set!... “My car wont start.” Solution: Forget the gym, hit the pavement!8. Set a Summer goal- whether it’s about getting the body, or being able to run a marathon, set a summer orientated goal that you want achieve by the end of winter!9. Indoor sports- Speaks for itself.10. Help out a friend- Don’t know what to do with all this bad weather? Have a date, pick a house and work out there.11. Stop, Puzzle time!- Sitting indoors in front of the T.V. in the warm is lovely, but trade shortland street for calling a friend or relative, Sudoku, a book, crossword, or other puzzle and you will be burning more calories with your brain than you would watching the tele, up to 60% more!12. Can’t get the negativity off your mind?- It’s hard to be excited about winter, when summer was such a happy time. But instead of comparing pro’s and con’s just write a pro’s list, think about all the things winter allows you to do that you rather not do during the summer. Tips• Don’t overdress, the legs and feet stay warm from the increase in movement, so to stay cooler during your workout leave the legs exposed, but pack some long pants post workout to avoid cramping from rapid cooling.• Re-motivate by visiting old goals and giving them a makeover i.e. “go for a run every morning before work” to “swim in a heated indoor pool every day before work”.