Staying motivated when the wind is howling and the days are chilly…it is not an easy task. How do you overcome the weather?
Motivation lies within us. Our thoughts and daily actions can either have a positive or a negative influence on us. Our thoughts about exercise and the weather can play a big part in whether we get a workout in. Rev yourself up for your workouts! Find a new workout challenge, take a relaxation class to unwind, or join a small group. Try out the stretching and relaxation class on Thursdays at 7 in Fitchburg. You will find peace for your mind as you lengthen your muscles with gentle stretches.
Small group workouts can be a great way to work with others in order to accomplish your fitness goals.Maybe the small group setting isn’t the right setting for you. Contact me, Christi Otto, at: christi@phfitness.com to learn more about individual training options.
Identifying what motivates you and why you are exercising are very important. Use the upcoming indoor workout days to work towards your outdoor goals. Are you looking forward to gardening, biking, or hiking? Start today and strengthen your body in ways that will prepare you for the warm weather that is coming.
Write down two strength areas that you could improve now. Start today! Also, write down two reasons why you exercise. Not just to lose weight or tone, but what will working out help you do? Put these four things on your phone calendar as a daily reminder. Look at them every day when they pop up on your phone!
A daily gut check is a way that you can also motivate yourself and measure your progress. Place your index finger on your belly and inhale deeply so that it expands. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and push your finger against your hard abdominal wall. Now pinch your index finger and thumb together. “You’re holding pure fat between your fingers,” says Tom Seabourne, Ph.D., author of Athletic Abs. Do this every day, 30 minutes before your workout, and you’ll find that you will rarely decide to skip it. See Men’s Health: “20 Ways To Stick To Your Workout,” for the full article.
Combining all of these strategies will get you through the cold, the wind, and the rain. Finding time for yourself to warm up your body and challenge yourself is the key to moving in the right direction. You need to start now! Have questions? Contact me at Christi@phfitness.com.