Winter Fitness: How to Keep Those Holiday Pounds Away
With autumn’s arrival in sight and somewhat cooler weather not far behind, thoughts turn to long sleeves, the occasional blaze in the outdoor fire pit, maybe an extra blanket, and comfort food. Cooler weather is the chance to enjoy soups, stews, and casseroles; those dishes are a heartwarming but caloric reminder of childhood, holidays, old friends – and extra pounds.
You can eat and enjoy if you also commit to staying fit. Here are eight tips regarding winter fitness and how to keep the holiday pounds away.
Stay Healthy With These Winter Fitness Tips
Use outdoor equipment indoors or buy an all-purpose machine:
Mount a road bike on an indoor cycling trainer. Buy a rowing machine, elliptical trainer, or treadmill cheap on Craigslist or secondhand store. If you buy exercise equipment, look for something that provides multiple exercise options in a single machine.
Commit to holiday fitness in writing:
Write out your exercise schedule and post it where you see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Don’t give yourself an opportunity to avoid your promise of staying committed to Winter fitness.
De-calorize comfort food classics:
Eat your mac and cheese, burgers, and beef bourguignon, but find ways to cut back on the fat and sodium. Here are some recipes to get the healthy party started.
Find a buddy or a trainer:
Motivation is sometimes hard to find when the holidays keep everyone busy. If your own conscience is not enough, enlist a workout buddy or hire a personal trainer and arrange in-person or virtual workouts together. That way, you’ll both maintain your Winter fitness!
Use an exercise app:
Use mileage apps to accurately track your running, walking, and cycling and track your workouts to monitor your progress.
Go outside and play; it’s good for you:
That’s what our moms told us, and it’s true. And depending on how cold it is and how hard you work out, you may burn more calories in cold weather.
Step up those stairs:
Climb your way to good health indoors: use stairs in a hotel, office building, stadium, or shopping center.
Learn a new winter sport or try an old one again:
Plan a trip to a really cold winter resort offering lots of outdoor activity. Rent skis or ice skates before you invest in expensive gear. Or be a kid again and borrow or rent a sled, find a hill, and spend the afternoon flying down and trudging back up. Build snow forts and engage other guests in a snowball fight.
Plan to enjoy the holidays:
Accept party invites and be prepared. Eat before you go, bring your own (low-calorie) contribution, dilute your alcohol intake with ice or club soda and find a place to sit and talk away from the buffet. Say no to taking home leftovers and offer to take out the sealed trash bags (instead of clearing the table and snacking on tidbits) as your good guest deed. Staying dedicated to Winter fitness can make you everyone’s favorite person at the party, too!
It’s OK to play a summer sport any time of year:
Golf and volleyball don’t require a manicured course and raked sand traps or a net on the beach. Snow golf is a different take on the typical summer sport, complete with competitive tournaments. And you can set up a volleyball net anywhere.
Avoid baggy, oversized clothing:
Those items are great for warm layering, but extra pounds hide under big sweaters and XXL team shirts. Keep track of your weight with a scale, a food journal and your wardrobe.
Join an organized fitness program:
Investing in an exercise program is a commitment, and one you keep when you choose 3 Elements Lifestyle. Working with motivating, exciting trainers and seeing positive results encourages continued participation. Our program combines group and individual classes, proper nutritio, and advice on rest and recovery to encourage the healthiest version of you for life.
David Michael Gilbertson is the founder and president of 3 Elements Lifestyle, LLC., a Fitness and Weight Loss company that specializes in YOU!. With more than 15 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, David lectures, delivers seminars and gives workshops on the practical skills required to successfully help you with your health and fitness goals. David also helps you build the teamwork, management, and training necessary to open your own fitness center. For more information on Licensing and Consulting Services visit his wesbite at: www.3elementslifestyle.com or email at daveg@3elementslifestyle.com or call (805) 499-3030.
