Motivation Monday: Hustle for that muscle this winter
Here are a few tips to stay motivated and consistent with your exercise routine this winter.
EXERCISING and winter are not synonymous for many, and this is where most people fall off the bandwagon and deviate from their fitness routines.
“While a warm bed may be more inviting than a gym mat and dumbbells, it’s vital to stay consistent,” says Durban fitness and life coach, Reagan Damons.
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“You may want to stay warm in bed or rush straight home after work instead of hitting the gym, but I advise you to stay focused. You don’t want to lose all the hard work you’ve invested in your fitness,” said Damons.
He offers the following tips to get out of bed and to the gym this winter:
1. Simplify your routine
Winter is not the time to start a completely new routine. The body goes into a more relaxed mode during winter and it recognises that. Stick to what you’re doing.
2. Take a hot shower before you train
There’s nothing like a hot shower to wake you up.
3. Eat healthily during the day
Eat small, well-balanced meals during the day, before you train, so you don’t feel lethargic. Once you’ve completed training, eat a bigger but wholesome meal to replenish your body. You could also treat yourself to your favourite snack without feeling guilty because you earned it.
4. Hit the outdoors and parks
Training outdoors means you may avoid a vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D is essential for producing serotonin which lifts up our spirits. In turn, you feel more motivated and are more likely to work out. It’s a challenge to train when you’re feeling down.
5. Drink a cuppa prior to training
A cup of hot coffee 15 minutes prior to working out won’t only warm you up but will also give you the energy boost you need for up to an hour.
6. Let the music play
Before you train, listen to your favourite tunes to get you in the mood. Before you know it, you’ll be well into your workout.
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