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Once winter has set in, your enthusiasm to maintain your exercise regime can dwindle. However winter is actually an excellent time to continue a healthy workout routine because the weather is cooler, keeping your core body temperature down.

Motivation

Motivation can be the biggest hurdle to your winter workout routine. When the cooler climate sets in, we instinctively hit the snooze button and stay snuggled under our doonas resisting the need to get into our workout gear. If you find it impossible to get up and get dressed, have your workout gear ready and next to the bed, or better yet, wear some to bed so you just need to pull on a jumper and shoes. Being half way there when your alarm goes off will take the sting out of wandering around in the cold trying to find something to wear.

When Should You Tackle Winter Exercise?

Light or dark, morning or night, anytime is a great time to exercise in winter. It’s really up to you and what works best for your schedule. If neither morning nor evening work for you, aim to get out for at least a 10 minute walk in your lunch break. Remember something is better than nothing, so if it’s too dark to do your usual hour walk in the morning, wait half an hour and do a half hour walk instead. If you don’t already have one, pick yourself up an activity trcker to help you track your daily steps so you know where you’re at for your daily activity.

Winter Sports You Should Try

All types of exercise are suited to winter, however you might feel more motivated to do some kinds over others. Given the brisk temperature of winter mornings, you can’t complain about the heat, so getting out on your morning walk or run is a great option. If you can’t face the cold outdoors, stay indoors and do some resistance training, try a hot yoga class or head to the local heated swimming pool. If your motivation is really lacking you might also like to complete an at-home workout from YouTube and small weights (try tin cans or water bottles if you don't have a set!).

On the contrary, if you're feeling adventurous, why not give netball, touch football, squash or snow sports (like ice skating or snowboarding) a go? No matter what type of exercise you pick, be sure to complete a good warm up and cool down to give your body time to adjust to the temperature and spend time on your stretching to avoid injury.

What to Wear?

Having the right tools, is going to keep you confident in your winter workout routine. If you’re heading outdoors, ensure you rug up to minimise injury. Layers are a must as they can be removed as you warm up, rather than fleece jumpers which may cause you to overheat. Avoid cottons and invest in pieces with moisture-wicking fabrics that are easy to peel off during your workout. Then, layer up with a windbreaker if it's extra brisk.

If it’s dark, be sure to wear brightly coloured or reflective clothing so oncoming traffic and other exercisers can see you. Keep your eyes peeled for ice when out and about in the early hours of the morning. A good pair of shoes with plenty of tread will help you grip better on wet roads and paths.

Focus on Good Health Throughout the Seasons

In winter, it can also be tempting to indulge in comfort foods. Check out our tips to help you make healthier choices this winter and don't forget to load up on immune boosting vitamins and minerals to fend off the flu.

Overall, try to keep your healthy lifestyle goals in sight rather than using winter as excuse to avoid working out. Living a healthy lifestyle is all about making small, healthy choices everyday. The key to long term weight management is ensuring consistent, positive behaviours regardless of the temperature.

If you need a little extra help finding a healthy balance for you this winter, consider seeking the help of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist for tailored advice.