Oh the Holiday season is officially here. It is the day after Halloween and candy
is of the abundance. The Christmas decorations already fill the stores. It’s getting dark early, the weather
isn’t perfect, we have family obligations and travel commitments that hinder
our ability to keep up with our regular exercise routines. The Holidays can become
extremely stressful, which is one of the many reasons why we should not let our
exercise take a back seat. Regular
exercise makes people feel good, so why stop feeling good during “The best time
of the year?” As an Exercise
Physiologist and enthusiast, I would like to share a few tips that help me keep
up with a regular exercise routine over the winter. For those who are not necessarily a cyclist, you can still
benefit from many of these little tips.
1)
COACHING- My coach is my main motivation. She mixes things up so I don’t get
bored with routine. She provides me with realistic workouts that are feasible
with my work schedule. http://www.pinnacletrainingsystems.com/
2)
SCHEDULING- I schedule my workouts into my
google calendar at the beginning of the week. This allows me to make adjustments if I have previous
obligations. Sometimes this means
I am on the trainer at 5am or in the gym over lunch. I never regret my workout!
3)
GEAR- Winter gear is important. It is not fun to be miserable. Investing in some good quality winter
clothing can make your winter training a success. I myself have an abundance of smartwhool base layers, defeet
gloves, arm warmers, shoe covers, leg warmers, jackets, headbands, etc. REI is a good place to go for winter
clothing. They have a 100%
satisfaction guarantee and the quality of gear you will get is worth the couple
extra bucks, trust me. You will
stay warm and dry! If not, return
it.
4)
LIGHTS- It’s important to have lights for those
bad weather days or dark. This way
you can see and people can see you.
5)
BAD WEATHER OPTIONS- As a cyclist the road is my
gym. There will be those bad
weather days when you just can’t get outside.
a.
GYM- I cancelled my gym membership a few years
ago, because it just wasn’t worth the monthly cost (for me). I know I can always pay a guest fee and
hop in on a spin class if I really wanted too. I do have an employee gym at work, which has the basic necessities.
b.
TRAINER- I tend to rely on my garage and trainer. I have music and a TV that help pass
the time. Doing intervals helps
break the time up. It’s also nice
to have a garage trainer party with buddies and watch a throw back TDF on VHS.
c.
CLASSES- There are quite a few bike shops and private
computrainer places that offer great classes if you need a little extra
motivation on the trainer.
6)
FRIENDS- Friends are great motivation regardless
of the weather or time of year.
7)
COMPETITION- Competitions can add an element of
fun and motivation. These can
range from a cyclocross race to a STRAVA challenge.
GET READY- I like to get everything ready the night before; pack my gym bag, make my lunch, prep the coffee maker, get the bike on the trainer, lay out my clothes, etc. The less I have to do in the morning, the better! It motivates me to get up when I know I have a good cup of coffee waiting for me.
I hope these tips help you a bit in keeping up with your
exercise. Feel free to comment,
ask questions, or add some of your best tips! Lets get out there, have fun and stay healthy!!!
Thanks for reading,
JenniferMarie
