10 Winter Fitness Hacks to Help You Stick to Your Fitness Goals

Published on: 21 December 2018 Last Updated on: 20 July 2024
Winter Fitness

Are you having a hard time getting up off your butt and dragging yourself down to the gym this winter?

This is a problem that many Americans face. They choose to take a break from working out once it gets cold in the winter. And unfortunately, it leads to most of them falling out of shape and failing to get the proper amount of exercise every week.

If you currently find yourself in this scenario, there are some winter fitness hacks that can help you stick to your fitness goals during the colder months. Take a look at 10 of them below.

1. Start by Setting New Fitness Goals:

Fitness Goals

First things first: If you’re going to chase after fitness goals this winter, it’s a good idea to begin by putting those goals into place. The goals that you have for the winter are probably different than the goals you have at other times of the year.

Is your goal to:

  • Lose weight after the holiday season?
  • Get yourself in shape for a marathon in the spring?
  • Add 10 pounds of muscle for next summer?

Whatever the case may be, you’re going to have a tough time hitting your goals if they aren’t clearly defined. Make them as specific as they can be and write them down so you can refer back to them regularly.

2. Find a Winter Workout Buddy:

Winter Workout

Just about everyone who works out in the winter struggles to do it at one time or another. It’s not easy to go to the gym when it’s below freezing outside with snow on the ground.

To increase your chances of sticking to a normal gym schedule, you should find a winter workout buddy and hold one another accountable. You’re more likely to go to the gym several times a week when you know someone else is depending on you to be there.

3. Sign Up for Sessions with a Personal Trainer:

If you can’t find anyone who wants to go to the gym with you on a regular basis, your next best bet is to sign up for sessions with a personal trainer.

A personal trainer can take a look at your goals and create a workout schedule for you so that you can hit them. They’ll also work with you when you show up at the gym to make sure you’re doing exercises correctly.

You’ll start to see results in no time when you have a personal trainer by your side. You’ll also have an easier time going to the gym when you have sessions scheduled with your trainer.

4. Consider Trying a New Workout Routine:

Have you been doing the same workout routine for months on end now?

Maybe you’ve been lifting weights like crazy. Or maybe you’ve been doing nothing but taking one spin class after another.

To keep things fresh, you should consider trying a new workout routine in the winter. It’ll put some pep in your step and prevent your winter workouts from getting stale.

5. Enroll in New Fitness Classes:

Fitness Classes

Another way to keep your winter workouts fresh is by signing yourself up for a new class at the gym. Whether you choose to do yoga, kickboxing, or something else, you’ll enjoy working out in a class setting.

Fitness classes keep you motivated by surrounding you with other people who are chasing fitness goals just like you. Together, you’ll increase your chances of hitting your goals and keep one another motivated.

6. Find Quick Workouts You Can Do at Home:

There are going to be times when you simply can’t make it to the gym. Inclement weather will prevent you from getting there.

But don’t use that as an excuse not to work out! There are so many simple exercises that you can do right at home without using any equipment.

Exercises like cross jacks, plank heel touches, and skater squats are a great way to get a quick workout in when you can’t make it to the gym for whatever reason.

7. Refuse to Make Excuses for Not Working Out:

When the snow is falling and the temperature is in the teens, you’re going to be tempted to make excuses for not working out.

Don’t do this!

If you need to, hang up inspirational quotes all around your home that focus on not making excuses. They’ll help you get up and moving in no time.

8. Put Together a Winter Workout Playlist:

When is the last time you updated your workout playlist?

If it’s been a while now, you should consider making a new mix for the winter. You can use one of the many music streaming services to create a motivational playlist.

You’ll look forward to listening to the playlist each and every time you walk into the gym.

9. Invest in Winter Workout Gear:

The workout gear that you wear in the summer is not the workout gear that you should wear in the winter. This website features tons of workout gear that would be perfect for exercising in the wintertime.

By filling up your closet with the right gear, you’ll give yourself even more motivation to continue working out this winter.

10. Hang Your Swimsuit Up on Your Bedroom Door:

The other winter fitness hacks that are listed here should work well for most people. They should help you to stay in the shape this winter.

But if they don’t, this winter fitness hack should definitely do the trick!

Take your swimsuit and hang it up on the back of your bedroom door. It’ll force you to look at your swimsuit and think about your beach body (or lack thereof!) every time you leave your bedroom.

If that doesn’t motivate you to work out this winter, nothing will.

Use These Winter Fitness Hacks to Stay in Shape:

Some people don’t have any problem maintaining a workout routine in the wintertime.

But if you aren’t one of those people, it can be frustrating to see your physical fitness fall into shambles in the winter. Rather than sitting by and watching yourself fall out of shape, but the winter fitness hacks listed here to good use.

Check out our blog to see how you can make your fitness more of a priority even when your time is limited.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Back Pain

Easy Ways To Prevent Back Pain With A Seat Cushion When You Are Seated All Day Long

Most people think that just because you have a job where you sit all day long that you have it made. Well, this is not the case at all. In fact, it is far more likely that you will injure your back from sitting as compared to individuals that up and moving around. In fact, research that dates back to the 1950s shows a direct correlation between back pain and individuals that remain seated all day. It was also discovered that bus drivers are far more likely to suffer from heart attacks when compared to the conductors on the same bus. If you are an individual that sits all day long then these facts are probably truly frightening. Well, do not fret because there are some easy ways that you can prevent lower pain back. Get Exercise When You Can: Most people know that they should be exercising, but they simply just don't do it. They either convince themselves that they don't have the time or they are just too tired after eight hours of work. Well, you might be surprised that one hour of exercise and combat the effects of sitting for eight hours. One hour of exercise could cover your whole workday. Exercise doesn't have to be something that is dreaded or physically draining. You don't have to go to the gym and hits the weights. You can simply choose an activity like rowing, walking, or biking. Turn that exercise into a hobby and it will be easier to get motivated to do it every day. Take Advantage Of Back Stretching Exercises: It doesn't matter how many hours of the day you sit there are a number of back stretching exercises that you can take advantage of to help ease the soreness and pain. You can do these exercises when you are not at work or on your lunch break and they can help prevent injury or even provide relief if you are already suffering an injury. The best two exercises available are plank and 2-point superman. You have probably heard of the plank before as it is an extremely common exercise. It basically just involves laying on the floor with your forearms in front of you with your elbow in line with your shoulders. Once in this position, you will lift yourself up onto your toes and elbows for 15 seconds. The 2-point superman will require you to get on all fours and straighten your right leg behind you while raising your left arm in front of you. You will literally look like Superman flying through the air. You will want to hold this position for 10 seconds and then switch to the other side. Take Advantage Of The Right Posture Products: Many people know that posture is important, but that doesn't make it easy to maintain the right posture at all times. This is especially true if you have already developed bad posture. Well, there are a number of products available on the market like the coccyx cushion that can help make your posture better. These cushion products are also equipped with 100% memory foam with no additives. They are literally made of the same material that can be found in the world's leading memory foam mattresses. Such cushion with these abilities can be used to improve bad posture and relieve leg pain while driving or sitting for extended periods of time. Constantly Change Seating Positions: If you work in an office you have the advantage of getting up and moving around, but if you are a driver this is probably something that won't be available to you. Well, this is where changing up your seating positions can come in handy. Every hour so make sure that you are shifting around in your seat to prevent yourself from staying in the same position for an extended period of time. Read Also: What Are The Benefits Of Using A Pedal Exerciser? What Are Virtual Reality Workouts And How Will They Affect Exercise?

READ MOREDetails
Dental Hygiene

5 Dental Hygiene Tips for a Healthier Smile

Do you want to have a beautiful, glowing smile? Dental health is critical to the health of your heart and overall well-being. It's important you try to maintain good dental hygiene if you want to be healthy. No two individuals have the same types of teeth. It depends on our genetics, food intake, lifestyle habits, and more. This is why dental hygiene differs from person to person and should be taken seriously. This article will teach you 5 dental hygiene tips so you can have pearly whites that impress. 1. Floss Twice Daily: Too many Americans skip flossing altogether, citing the excuse that they don't have time in their busy lives. We get it; work is tough, but gum disease is tougher. Not flossing regularly can lead to irritated gums, plaque, and gum disease. If you feel like you have no time to floss try flossing while doing other activities like reading your emails or brewing coffee. 2. Brush Longer: Ten seconds is not nearly enough time to brush your teeth thoroughly. Two minutes is an appropriate length to brush your teeth. Try brushing your teeth while getting a leg workout in by squatting or doing calf raises. 3. Pay Your Dentist a Visit: Ideally, you should be visiting your dentist for a cleaning twice a year. Some adults forgo seeing the dentist altogether but this could be a fatal mistake. Your dentist can tell you when something is seriously wrong with your teeth and stop the problem before it develops into something serious. A cosmetic dentist can determine if braces are the right choice for you to attain straighter teeth. Do your research to find the best cosmetic dentist near you. 4. Try Oil Pulling: Swish a spoonful of coconut oil around your mouth for 10 minutes at the end of a long day. This practice pulls out the grime in your teeth as it sticks to the oil. When you're done swishing, spit the oil into a garbage can. Oil pulling is a great way to get a serious clean feeling in your mouth before heading out to a big occasion. 5. Use Mouthwash: Try an organic mouthwash to top off your dental routine. Mouthwashes are the final step after brushing and flossing and it makes your mouth minty fresh. Mouthwash has a high alcohol content and thereby helps kill the germs that are lingering in your mouth. Remember, a clean mouth is a healthy mouth. Follow These Dental Hygiene Tips for a Healthy Mouth Follow these dental hygiene tips to get a healthy mouth and a healthy body by extension. Your mouth needs to be clean so that plaque and tartar don't build up on your teeth. If you enjoy biting into steaks and smiling with your teeth on camera, you need to treat them well! Like this article? Want to tell us your tips for dental hygiene? Please contact us here. Read Also: The Relationship Between Oral Health And General Health

READ MOREDetails
Marathon Training Section

Marathon Training Section. Breaking Through the Wall

Every runner knows what “to hit the wall” means and almost every runner lives in fear of it interfering with their race. During a marathon hitting the wall is the main problem, thus, breaking through wall is the number one priority as the success with the race depends on it. The wall is considered as the most difficult period in a marathon when things transition from being just hard to being really very-very hard. It is a specific runner`s condition of sudden fatigue and loss of energy. For most runners, the latest 6.2 miles (or 10-K) of the marathon are commonly the toughest part of the race when the legs feel like if they are made of cement, when the stomach is queasy, the head starts getting dizzy and negative thoughts flood the mind. The wall is hard to describe to a non-runner as it`s something that needs to experience to understand. Jerome Drayton, winner of the 81st Boston Marathon, said it best: “To describe the agony of the marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain the color to someone who was born blind.” Some athletes call it “wall”, some also call this state “bonking”.  But it doesn't really matter how to call it, it`s more importantly, what to do about it, namely, how to break through the wall and reach the finish line first. The key to avoiding the wall or at least minimizing its impact on your race is understanding what`s going on in your body and preparing yourself for it with proper training, intelligent race management, right nutrition and appropriate hydration strategies. Prepare Your Body For The Race  If you include the long training runs in your training program you'll be able to train your body for the marathon. Your long runs are the best training for avoiding the wall as they will condition your muscle for a marathon distance. By the way, they help you build your endurance and make your muscles more injury resistant. You have to experience and stimulate the exertion of the marathon every day, preferably 16 weeks before it. Your long runs should be done slowly (at least 2 minutes per mile) than the marathon pace. Remember, here your goal isn't a distance, here your goal is duration! For example, if you run training commonly lasts 4:30 hours, your long run should last 4 hours (it means 3 hours of long runs in the morning and an additional hour in the evening). Analyze Nutrition Matters  When your aim is to win the marathon you have to draw your attention to the right nutrition strategy. If you prepare your muscles with daily progressive long runs that's great, but don't forget your muscles are fueled by using the combination of fat and glycogen. The harder you're pushing yourself, the more fuel your body needs. So you should eat before the marathon and during it! At least 300 calories you need to take in an hour before the race to raise your blood sugar level and help your brain concentrate on the task. Then every hour of the marathon you should consume about 200 calories. That can be candy, a banana, cookies, energy gels or an energy bar. It would be better if you work out what fuel is easiest for you to transport, use and digest before the race. Drink More Often  It`s equally important to stay hydrated during the marathon. When you lose water through sweat, your overall blood volume is decreased and that's why there's less blood available to carry oxygen to your muscles. So dehydration also leads to the marathon wall. Try not to pass the early water stops even if you feel that you're not thirsty! By the time your body tells you it's thirsty, you're already dehydrated. You have to drink two 8-ounce glasses of water or sports drink 2 hours before the marathon and take in 6 to 8 ounces of water or sports drink at every water station every 15-20 minutes of the race (of course, depending on the weather conditions, your body size and sweat rate). This will help you avoid dehydration so your blood will move smoothly from your heart to your leg muscles, providing the oxygen to those muscles and shuttling waste products away. By the way, consuming enough fluids keeps sweat flowing that cools you down and helps you ease muscle cramps. Don`t be afraid to lose your precious time, just stop and drink. These few seconds will pay off further. Follow Proper Marathon Race Management  The biggest and most common marathon race mistake is to start the marathon too fast. Of course, you feel so strong and full of energy early in the race, so you tend to run too fast. Don`t do that, in no case! If you want to cross the finish line you have not to overestimate your potential. Keep in mind that you have to save your energy for the last 6 miles. Use Head Games To Reach The Finish Line  To make the last 6 miles easier you shouldn't focus on how your body is feeling or your fatigue, if anything, you can visualize yourself in another situation and try to dissociate. For example, don`t concentrate on the race you may imagine yourself by the sea or visualize achieving your goal. The main thing is to think of something nice and you'll cross the finish line before you know it! As you see with the right training program and racing techniques, proper nutrition, hydration and mental strategies you can easily make the last 6 miles of your marathon and defeat the wall once and for all. Read More : Why Jumping On Trampolines Is More Beneficial Than Running Or Jogging? How To Train Your Brain With Math Yoga For Pregnant Women   Helen Rogers is an editor of http://thecrossfitshoes.com/ She helps people get stronger. She shares running and sports questions, beauty tips. All her stories are result-oriented and make her readers become healthy, wealthy and wise.  

READ MOREDetails