10 easy winter exercise tips for winter

It's easy to let fitness slide during winter; the lure of red wine, hearty comfort food and staying indoors can all see the best laid plans go astray. Here's how to avoid the winter kilo creep.

Body and Soul

Schedule three high intensity workouts per week.

It's easy to let fitness slide during winter; the lure of red wine, hearty comfort food and staying indoors can all see the best laid plans go astray.

So, what should you keep in mind when thinking about staying in shape this winter? Fitness coach, Sharni Wilson-Smith has the following tips to get you moving no matter how cold and foggy the weather. 

1. Be solutions focused

Instead of avoiding the cold, embrace it. The famously disciplined Shaolin monks train in any conditions because it builds character. You don't have to go to the Himalayan mountains, but getting outside for some fresh air and open space will be good for your mind as well as your body. Make a list of common excuses like “it’s too cold”, “it’s raining” or “it’s too dark” and create solutions like training indoors, taking a class or exercising with a friend to keep from cancelling your fitness plans.

2. Go straight to the gym after work

If you train in the afternoon or evening, plan your day so that you don't have to go home before visiting the health club or gym. It's really difficult to leave the house once you get home and comfortable. Pack your exercise gear the night before so you’re organised and are left with no excuses not to go to the gym.

3. Make the most of every moment

Do you find the morning is too cold, and by evening you're too tired? Look for ways to integrate exercise into your day. At lunchtime, go for a brisk 20-minute walk. If you have a meeting with a colleague planned, consider taking it to the streets for a "walk and talk". Try a lunchtime boxing or yoga class. These breaks will warm you up and are a great way to revitalise your mind and get you ready for a productive afternoon.

4. Don't let a cold cancel your routine

Illness is a common setback to maintaining a winter exercise routine. One of the many benefits of regular exercise is a healthy and resilient immune system, which helps you recover faster, and makes you less likely to catch a cold in the first place. If a cold does catch you, try gentler activities such as stretching to maintain good habits. Keeping your routine will make it easier to get back into your regular program when you're feeling 100 per cent again.

5. Book an active midwinter escape

A short trip to somewhere sunny can help you beat the winter blues and offers an excellent chance to get active as well. Find some fun activities to include in your trip such as mountain biking or kayaking. Revel in the winter chill and hit the slopes on a skiing or snowboarding escapade, or for those a little more daring, how about trying a cycling tour or hiking adventure?

6. Run barefoot

Winter is a great time to try barefoot running on the beach – you’ll find more resistance in the sand after it’s rained. Try running barefoot landing on the pads of your feet. According to a new study, runners who hit the ground first with the front of their foot are less likely to injure themselves, regardless of whether they run in sneakers or barefoot.

7. Buddy up

There’s nothing like the knowledge that someone is waiting for you to motivate you to stick to your plans – even in the bleak mid-winter. Make a pact with a friend to encourage each other and commit to set training times. Plus step your workouts up a notch so you don’t have to be out in the elements for as long. Try 20 minutes of hill sprints interchanged with push-ups instead of an hour long work. Shorter, more intense workouts can be key to fitness breakthroughs.

8. Be positive

Most important of all is to approach your winter exercise routine with a positive mindset. After all, there are some excellent advantages to exercising in winter. Winter is an ideal time to lose weight as your metabolism naturally speeds up to help keep you warm. Keep moving through winter and you'll be a step ahead when the warm weather arrives.

9. Stay warm

Winter is the perfect excuse to exercise or hang out in warm places. If your gym has a sauna or a steam room, why not use it? As long as you ensure you remain hydrated, a sweaty session can be just the detox you need. Bikram yoga, which is done in a heated room, is also a good way to get up a sweat without braving the outdoors.