Winter is finally catching up to us and you know what that means: so are those extra pounds. It’s bad enough that Thanksgiving had us stuffing our faces. I enjoy leftover mashed potatoes just as much as the rest of you, but we have to admit that our diets went pretty much down hill once Turkey Day came around.
It’s always been the same pattern for the winter months. We stay in because of the cold, hole up in our blankets with a constant marathon of Netflix and have our favorite foods surrounding us like the good friends that have always been there for us. Sad, huh? But I am breaking this calorie-laced cycle. It is time to hop out of bed and get back in shape, friends.
Of course this is way, way easier said than done, but we have to start somewhere. You have to think about it this way: the closer we are to winter, the closer we are to New Years. I know everyone wants to look toned and fit for those shiny, sequined fabulous outfits you wear when the clock strikes twelve. So in order to do that, healthy eating starts now. If you replace those Doritos with apple slices, we wont have to turn into pumpkins at midnight, but we will stay our healthy Cinderella-selves all night.
The toughest thing about getting in shape over the winter is probably the fact that we are trying to get in shape when it is freezing outside. For those of us who take the cold as an incentive to literally never leave their house, I got the perfect solution: Work out inside! I personally start off my workouts at home and then go to the gym for cardio.
All you need is a yoga mat or some kind of surface that will not be harsh on your back! These are some of the videos I use! Super easy.
Cardio on the other hand can be a little tricky. There are only so many circles you can run around your living room table before you get dizzy and pass out. So it’s best to try and get your blood pumping with some other methods. If you can’t make it to a treadmill, or if it’s the set of Frozen outside, there are more ways to keep your blood pumping! The most important thing about cardio is that you keep your heart rate up and you feel your muscles being utilized. A perfect way to do this is running up and down stairs, jumping jacks, or even just running in place! Try these cardio workouts as examples.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to do is maintain a healthy and strong lifestyle. It’s important to treat your body like a machine when it comes to exercising, and machines don’t stop running just because it gets cold outside. Keeping a healthy lifestyle is so important for your mind, body and soul. Make sure your eating habits reflect that as well. Working out will get you that toned body you want, but eating right will keep it.
So here’s to keeping shape through the winter months! Be ready to work out, eat right, layer up and then have that healthy body ready for swimsuit season.
