Warm up to be winter fit

FITNESS should not be seasonal.

It’s easy to make excuses when it gets cold, but don’t let the winter weather undo all the hard work you put into your health and fitness during the warmer months.

If you need a nudge in the right direction, here are some ways to help you achieve year-round fitness.

1. Layer up

This might sound obvious but many people still train in their summer activewear in the middle of winter. Layering up is not only important for people who train outdoors, it’s valuable if you’re an indoor gym-goer.

When you’re cold and stiff there’s a higher likelihood that you’ll cause an injury, have a poor quality workout or even skip your workout altogether.

It’s important to elevate your core body temperature before you dive into high-intensity workouts. This ultimately warms up your joints and muscles, preparing your entire body for movement.

So, by simply layering up and stripping away as you go, you might just prime your body for movement and improve the likelihood of getting a high quality session in.

2. Join a gym

Let’s face it, weather can be a barrier, especially if you are an avid outdoor exerciser. Sure, some people brave the conditions on cold, rainy and windy days, but a gym is a great place to get a workout if you’re not up for battling the elements. Joining a gym is also a great opportunity to change things up.

By shifting the focus from your strengths to your weaknesses, you’ll likely make impressive adaptations in time for spring/summer by changing the stimulus to something different.

Maybe you can spend more time doing strength training with weights, building some precious muscle, improving your grip strength, trying some group classes, circuits – the list goes on. Keep an open mind and never stop bettering yourself.

3. Find a workout partner

A workout partner is a great way to keep one another accountable. Whether it’s an early morning run/ride outside or a session in the gym, winter can get in the way of your training. Find a workout partner who is like-minded, motivated, on a similar fitness level and has no quit in them.

It will ensure you both show up for your workout and push each other to reach new levels. bodyandsoul.com.au