Winter fitness tips for weight loss
Winter fitness tips for weight loss – Winter means shorter days which means, unless you’ve got a lunchtime work-out routine, that you may well be working out in the dark before or after your working day.
For those who don’t go into the bright glare of a gym or recreational centre but rely upon the great outdoors, pre-dawn or post-sunset hours can be challenging.
Naturally your body wants to stay where it is warm and comfortable but you know exercise is essential so it’s a poor excuse to say the ‘day is just too short’.
Here are some Winter fitness tips for weight loss to get you moving when it seems like the whole world is sleeping or thinking of it:
* Prepare Your Work-Out Wear in Advance: Lay out your clothing the night before so it’s easier to get dressed and ready for action without thinking too much about your work-out. Take the question mark out of the equation. Consider even wearing your work-out clothing to bed if you’re an early-morning exerciser so all you need to do is lace-on on your trainers before you head out of the door to jog or walk. Likewise if you’re an after-work exerciser take your clothes to work, change there and be ready to hit the outdoors as soon as you reach home or the gym, ably by-passing the shall I/shan’t I question. No excuses with such proper planning.
* Update Your Playlist: Keep this up to date, motivational and modern if you like to work-out to music. There’s nothing like a good workout song to get you moving before you ‘go go’ to work in the morning or ‘wind down’ after the daily grind.
* Protect Yourself: It’s well worth the investment to buy some good reflective gear so that drivers can see you if you’re road running or walking during the darker hours. If the terrain you run on is somewhat hazardous (with uneven ground) then consider wearing a small headlamp to illuminate your path, or carry a small flashlight to help light the way.
* Stay Hydrated: If you’re working out in the morning, consider what you are eating and drinking the night before as fuel for your work-out. Not enough water before bed can mean you suffer from cramps while you work out early morning. Likewise aim to eat well so that you have good nutrition to fuel your efforts.
If you work out at night, make sure that you have your regular meal and healthy snacks throughout the day that provide your essential protein and the complex carbohydrates you require to ease you through your work-out until you get a chance to eat and re-fuel again.
Avoid high-sugar sports drinks before, during or after your exercise session, as tempting as they might be, for they can lead to ‘dumping syndrome’ for bypass patients and weight-gain for all post-op bariatric surgery patients.
