How to keep fit and stay motivated during those darker autumn months

LThe shorter days, darker mornings and colder nights can cause us to feel run down, low on energy and under the weather.

So, it’s no wonder that people just want to curl up in front of the fire instead of getting out and doing some exercise. But, that’s not going to help your fitness, your waistline or your energy levels. Being inactive will just make you feel more lethargic. Getting your workout done will fill you full of energy. It will lift your mood and mental state and give you focus, alertness and increase your productivity. You just have to get the motivation to get out of the house and do it. Here’s some tips to get your motivation back and beat the Autumn blues:

Instead of moaning about the cold weather, flip your mindset… this is one of the most beautiful times of year for scenery. Embrace the Autumn colours, the crisp in the air, it’s one of the best times of the year to workout outdoors!

Treat Yourself To Some New Workout Gear

When we look good, we feel good, and we feel motivated to do a little more. So, owning activewear that you feel comfortable in is really important!

A good tip is to get your workout gear ready the night before so you can jump

Just as with most things, setting out a plan to your goals is a great way to stay motivated. Instead of waiting for New Year's resolutions, start now to set those goals (there’s

Fitness challenges don’t have to be gruelling events like running through fields of mud, climbing over 8ft high walls and crawling under barbed wire. All of those events are on hold at the moment anyway. As long as the challenge gets you out of the house and gets you active then it’s worth doing.

If you’re into running there’s some great virtual running challenges online. I’ve done quite a few of them myself. You can choose your distance to cover (normally 25, 50, 75 or 100km) over the month and then at the end you submit your proof and you receive a t-shirt and medal in the post. It’s a great way to stay motivated with running. Check them out.

If running isn’t for you, another way to stay motivated is to exercise with a group. At East Coast Fitness we are doing all of group classes outdoors at Seaham Marina. We have a limit on the attendance and all classes are socially distanced to keep it a safe environment. When you have other people around you it’s excellent for motivation! If you’d like to join us send me an email and I’ll send you all of the details. graham@eastcoast-fitness.com