When it’s cold outside and warm and cosy in bed, it can be hard to muster the energy for an early morning workout. So if you need a helping hand first thing (don’t worry, we do too) we’ve got some simple tricks that will help you find the fitness motivation you need to embrace those early morning workouts with a spring in your step.
Struggling to maintain the exercise routine you managed to perfect during summer? You’re not the only one. We know how hard it can be to muster the motivation to get yourself to the gym or out for a run when it’s dark and cold outside. Exercise is a lot more appealing in January when the weather’s warm and balmy come 7am.
If you’re someone who keeps to a tight training program throughout spring and summer, it can be a little deflating when during winter, your body just doesn’t want to play ball. But, if it makes you feel any better, even professional athletes experience a shift in mindsets as soon as the seasons change.
So if you’re desperate to keep up with your exercise regime throughout winter — and believe us, it’s so worth sticking to, you’ll have less to catch up with come summer! — it’s worth making a few changes to your current workout program, to allow for the colder temperatures, and keep the momentum going. By making a few simple changes, we guarantee you’ll keep you exercise regime on track, and your body summer-ready all year-round.
To help. we asked fitness guru Jess Neil of JN Fit to reveal her top tips for staying in shape when the temperature drops and the days just keep getting shorter.
6 Ways to Find Your Winter Fitness Motivation with Jess Neil
If you're someone who constantly falls off the fitness bandwagon come winter, then dives into a crazy spring training schedule in a desperate attempt to catch up before summer, it's important to plan ahead.
A little bit of organisation and self-reflection goes a long way. When it comes to exercise, it’s all about getting in the right mindset and thinking positively. Getting rid of unwanted behaviours that aren’t serving us well — like hitting the snooze button and missing your Pilates class! — can make the world of difference
When we become aware of these behaviours, then we can take steps ahead of time to forestall them.
Here are some examples of questions to ask yourself to get you started (don't forget to self-reflect on whether they have an impact on your training, and if they do, it’s time to make changes!):
1. Where do I normally exercise?
For example, if you train outdoors and the cold/rainy weather isn't your cup of tea, then this is something you can easily fix with a gym membership. There are tonnes of gyms that offer month-to-month payments, so you could be a seasonal gym goer and get back outdoors once the weather warms up again.
2. What time do I usually exercise?
If you like to get up at the crack of dawn to exercise in the summer, but find it harder in the winter when it's cold and dark, you might be better off switching to evening or lunchtime sessions. A 30-minute workout will energise you throughout the day, and also make you a lot more mentally productive, too. Or, if you'd prefer to workout in the morning, try going to bed a little earlier so you'll feel well rested and raring to go as soon as you wake up.
3. Am I being held accountable?
This is a big one for some. If you find you lack the motivation to get going on your own, you could start exercising with a friend or hire a personal trainer to make sure you keep your routine and healthy habits in check. Both mean someone is relying on you to show up. You can even join a gym where you have to book and pay for classes in advance as a bit of financial incentive to show up.
4. Have I got goals to work for?
I don't mean a vague "I'd like to lose 10kg" goal, I mean something really specific and achievable, and ideally linked with performance rather than aesthetics. It might be "perform 10 push ups on my toes by the end of winter”, or "perform one unassisted pull up in 8 weeks time”, or "run for 20 minutes without stopping by the 31st June".
The more specific and time-focussed the goal is, the more likely you are to come back every week and work at it!
5. What do I enjoy?
If you're not big on weight lifting, then setting a strength based goal isn't going to be a good idea. Think about what you really love and do that throughout winter. If you're not sure, take advantage of the free trials that most facilities offer and try out some new things. Personally, I think martial arts are a super fun way to stay in shape!
6. Am I being kind to myself?
Exercise isn’t supposed to be easy, it’s a challenge after all. But it doesn’t all have to be about hard work. Remind yourself that you’ve achieved something wonderful after each workout, and treat yourself to something indulgent after each session. That could be a morning coffee or breakfast fix, or a steaming hot bubble bath to rest tired muscles in the evening after an intense HIIT class. Give your body some TLC, because you really do deserve it.
3 essential fitness supplements to maximise your workout
Swisse Ultiboost Calcium + Vitamin D
Try these daily supplements to boost bone and muscle strength.
VITAL Protein Powder Chocolate
This delicious, chocolate flavoured protein drink is rich in calcium to protect bones and muscle, whilst also helping to prevent the build-up of lactic acid to speed up post-exercise recovery.
BioCeuticals Ultra Muscleze Powder
A daily dose of Muscleze magnesium powder helps to relieve muscular aches, pains, cramps and spasms.
Your weight loss journey starts here!
Loved our winter fitness motivation tips? We've got lots more health advice on our Health & Wellness Edit, guaranteed to give your body a well-deserved boost. Suffer with UTIs? Here are some helpful tips. Want to know the most common health questions on Google?
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