5 Ways to Stay Fit During The Winter

It’s easy to put on weight during the winter with the colder weather providing a perfect excuse for being less active, and sweaters and jackets to help hide the fat. But if you just follow some simple guidelines you can make this winter your best season ever and look great once spring arrives.

#1: Set Up An Indoor Fitness Corner

Having a place to work out when the weather is cold and blustery outside is essential. Statistics show that if you have a gym membership you just won’t go out in the cold in order to use it. The best chance of success comes with a home workout area, so take the time to set up a special corner of your home that’s dedicated to fitness.

Running and working out in the cold can also exacerbate asthma symptoms, so it’s a good idea to keep it indoors during the coldest parts of winter.

#2: Get a Fitness Tracker

One way to make sure that you don’t skip out on your health during the winter is to get a fitness tracker. This adds objectivity to the equation and will keep you honest even when the weather is not on your side. It’s easy to give yourself a free pass when it starts to get cold and miserable, but you simply have to find ways to get in your daily activity, and by tracking it you’ll know where you stand at all times.

#3: Eat Seasonal Foods

Eating with the seasons is one way to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs to cope with what is happening outside. In his book The 3-Season Diet, Dr. John Douillard says to eat foods that nature provides to help our bodies function at their best according to the time of year. Switching to foods that are most beneficial during the winter can help you maintain a healthy weight all the way until spring.

#4: Practice Yoga or Pilates

The beauty of yoga and pilates is that they can both be performed with minimal equipment, can be done indoors, and can provide benefits to you even if you only do them for a short amount of time. You can find plenty of beginner-friendly videos on YouTube that can make it fun so you’ll want to keep doing it.

#5: Have Regular Sauna Sessions

Here’s a method that you’ll surely love, as it only involves sitting in a nice warm room. You may need a membership to your local gym or YMCA in order to find a sauna, but it is totally worth it during the winter months. It will give you that warm inner feeling you’re looking for, and can help you get through the harshest of winters.

You can sweat out toxins and help your skin and body at the same time. For best results you should partake in some exercise before going into the sauna so that you can really work up a good sweat. Consult with your doctor for the recommended amount of time to spend in the sauna and gradually work your way up to that time.

Don’t forget to make sure you are on a steady schedule especially when it comes to your sleep. Getting a good nights sleep is one of the most important factors in your health. If you’re not sleeping well you tend to crave junk food more and are less likely to have the energy for physical fitness.

As you can see it doesn’t take a total overhaul in order to avoid gaining weight in the winter, it just takes a few tweaks and a new way of thinking about fitness and health. Take these small steps today to prepare yourself for the long winter ahead and you’ll be ahead of the game when things start to warm up later.