Winter Stay-in-Shape Tips
By Editorial Staff
With few exceptions (California and Florida come to mind), most of the country is smack dab in the middle of another cold, weather-unfriendly winter. Both of those aspects of winter can put a major damper on your fitness.
Here's your recipe to stay healthy and fit until spring arrives.
Make an indoor plan: If you haven't already done it, make a winter plan to keep doing what you were doing in spring, summer and fall in terms of exercise. Too cold to run? Hit the gym for a treadmill or elliptical session; or make an investment and buy one for your garage or basement. Snowed in and can't get to the gym? Make your home a gym, even if you don't have any equipment. Push-ups, planks, stretching routines and more can all help maintain your fitness. For creative routines, search online for videos that let you follow along with a trainer.
Eat like it's summer: In the warmer months, you're infinitely more likely to go outside, show more skin and love doing both. In the winter, on the other hand, the priority is often curling up with a blanket, or braving the elements in layer upon layer of clothing. More clothes, more curling up; somehow that often seems to lead to greater consumption of comfort foods (the kind that aren't always great from a health perspective). The solution: Eat like it's summer even in the dead of winter, particularly whole fruits and vegetables that will keep your body and mind sharp.
Fitness is a year-long activity; not just a few days here and there. Prioritize your fitness whether it's January or June; May or December; or anywhere in between. Your body needs you to stay the course – so give it what it needs, and we promise, it will give you what you need in return.
