It’s hard enough to stay fit in the winter, holiday distractions aside. It’s darker, colder, and our bodies are aching to hibernate and craving sweets to compensate. It’s really, really easy to give in and take tie off, and this is a huge contributor to seasonal weight gain. Here are some ideas to combat the inertia and stay fit during the holidays:
- Sign up for something! Even in the cold weather, there are 5k races that you can run or walk in throughout the year. Turkey Trot, Jingle Bell, and other fun runs this season are often to raise money for worthy causes. Signing up for an event keeps you mindful of staying ins hape — you want to make sure you can cross the finish line!
- Find Activity partners: Sites such as Meetup.com are a great place to join a group who enjoy doing the same activity you do – be it rock climbing, cycling, walking, or rollerblading. You can also find a friend at work to be your walking buddy during the week; motivate and hold one another accountable! It’s easier to stay active when someone is counting on you
- Hire a professional: Sometimes you just need to lay down some cash and set an appointment to get things done. This is where a personal trainer, running coach, or other fitness professional can hold you accountable to your workouts and keep you exercising through the season.
- Join a gym. Hint — this time of year gets really slow, and great deals pop up in gyms desperate for membership. There’s no reason you should ever have to pay an initiation fee — many gyms will void them this time of year to get you in — take advantage of it!
The important thing is to keep moving – no matter what the activity is! A body in motion tends to stay in motion, and a body at rest….well, we’ve all fallen off the bandwagon and felt the difficulty of getting back on track again! Don’t give up on yourslef — staying active through December will give you a jump start on the New Year, help negate holiday goodies, and give you a sense of pride and accomplishment!
