It’s December—cue the unpredictable weather, freezing temperatures and the complete lack of motivation to leave the house. Although it is the most wonderful time of the year, the lack of motivation that creeps up to put a damper on your normal workout routine isn’t so wonderful. Now, add that to the fact that you’ll be surrounded with delicious goodies all month, and you have a recipe for disaster.
So, what is the answer to beating the winter workout blues? While there is no specific answer, there are many activities you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent gaining those extra pounds.
Even though the gym can get expensive, it’s perfect for the winter months because you get to stay inside where it’s nice and warm; you can even save money by only buying a membership month by month until it gets warm enough for you to get outside again. Plus, a lot of gyms provide special deals after the New Year for people starting their New Year resolutions.
Although the gym is great for keeping you warm, it is known for being somewhat boring and stuffy. Not anymore! It’s time to change up your routine. If you’re an elliptical girl, hop on the treadmill a couple days a week. Your body benefits from the change and it ultimately prevents you from getting bored with your same ole’ routine.
With that, you can even break up your routine by doing intervals. For example, the first ten minutes run or walk on the treadmill, followed by ten minutes on the elliptical, ending with ten minutes on the stair climber. The intervals will make your workout fly by and leave you feeling empowered.
Not only does the gym offer variety when it comes to cardio and strength training machines, it also provides workout classes like yoga or Pilates that help spice up your normal routine.
Taking a workout class can be very motivating; it gives you a certain time and place to be and provides you with a great support system. Surrounding yourself with other people interested in the same class will boost your self-esteem and ultimately make for a better workout. Some classes even offer great drop-in rates for less than $10 a class!
But maybe you’re a person that really hates the cold—so much that you don’t want to make the trek to the gym. Try a workout DVD! There are countless products catered to those who want to workout in their own home.
P90x is a great regimen that lasts for 90 days—almost the perfect amount of time to get you through the winter months. The p90x program consists of 12 DVD’s ranging from plyometrics to kenpo karate to a 90-minute yoga workout; plus it comes with a workout and nutrition guide; it’s like having your own person trainer! Just be careful, p90x is quite intense and if you order it off the Web site, beachbody.com, it is rather expensive. But, if you’re committed to an intense program and want a big change, p90x is perfect for you!
Insanity is also a great routine that lasts for 90 days. It differs from p90x in that it emphasizes cardio over strength training. This workout program will shred some serious pounds if you’re committed! You can also order this on beachbody.com.
There are a lot of other products out there to allow you to get a great workout and stay inside over the winter months. Jillian Michaels offers a variety of DVD’s. If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, opt for Jillian’s 30-Day Shred stores like Wal-Mart, Target or Amazon for only $7.23.
Beating the winter workout blues is all about variety and catering to your own needs. When you’re really feeling discouraged, make yourself commit to ten minutes of whatever workout you want. Just getting up and moving for that little amount of time will motivate you to keep moving and finish the workout—and if not, 10 minutes is better than nothing!