Tips on how to stay fit in colder weather.

You're all fired up for the upcoming year, the fresh starts that come with September. So long summer jogs, laps in the pool, roller blading, and beach volleyball. Wait, what? Yup. The thought of exercising just got a little more intimidating, didn't it? Now that the chill in the air is here to stay and the temperature is going to drop come winter, motivation for working out might seem hard to maintain. Want to keep that bikini body all year round? A few quick tips will help you get your heart racing again!

1.) Buddy up - Find a friend who is on the same level as you health-wise and plan an accountability system. Work out together, share recipes, etc.

2.) Join a community class - Many yoga studios offer free or donation based community classes. Making a commitment to a community class or even registering for a paid one shows your dedication to your body. Surrounding yourself with fellow fitness friends will also spur your motivation every week.

3.) Gear up - No question about it, the frigid cold weather is what deters our dream goals for exercising! Making sure you have appropriate work-out clothing is important - even indoors you're going to notice the colder temperature, so be prepared.

4.) Set monthly goals - What do you want to accomplish? A number on the scale? New eating habits? Whatever your ambition is, set specific dates to achieve them by. If you slack a little, don't get down on yourself about it, but working towards a time line keeps you going. Write them down.

5.) Set final goal for spring/summer - In the dead of winter, or even in early Fall, imagine what you want to look and feel like by next summer. Have an idea and perhaps an outfit you want to wear - use that as a target to hit!

6.) Holiday prep - Thanksgiving dinner, your American boyfriend's Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner... there are a lot of food fests coming up! Don't shy away from indulging. Just have an action plan for the aftermath.

7.) Vitamins/water - Are you getting enough of your essential vitamins? Make a list of what you're not so good at consuming, and put an effort into nipping that in the bud! Drink plenty of water every day.

8.) Be creative indoors - Just because your outdoor activities are limited, doesn't mean you can't use your living room for optimum benefits of fat burning! Yoga, jazz aerobics, pilates - you can do it all! Buy a few instructional DVDs to follow along with.

9.) Snow sports - The dreaded 'S' word, I know. Too soon! If you're a fan of outdoor sports, though, now is a good time to start thinking about plans for day or weekend trips somewhere fluffy for snowboarding or skiing! If you're more low key, skating is also a fun way to get your body moving. Don't panic yet, there's still a long way to go, but it's always smart to have ideas ahead of time!

10.) Morning routine - Stretching in the morning and before bed can do wonders for your muscles, and when you don't have much time during the day for a good work-out it's often your only other option. It's a great way to get going in the morning and relax all the tension in your body.

Consistency is key. As long as you've got something on the go and you're keeping yourself in check, not even a temperature drop can stop you from resuming a fit lifestyle. In the meantime, why not a night time stroll through those crunchy Autumn leaves?

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
	Read More >>