Caught A Case of the Winter Blues?

So, you like many of us you’ve caught the winter blues. A time of cozy sweaters, fluffy blankets, fires and comfort food...trust me ladies, I know from experience! You were killing it in January with your New Year’s Resolution but then Valentine’s Day chocolate went on sale and here we are huddled up on the couch dreading getting up let alone going to the gym. Have no fear, that’s why I’m here.
Here are 5 tips to staying active in the winter…

1. Don’t let yourself get down about a missed gym day, a cheat meal, or your pants fitting just a little tighter than usual.
Guess what chickies? You’re not only beautiful but you’re strong, smart and fearless too. Fitness and health is a journey full of highs and lows. Success on this journey isn’t measured by pounds lost or sizes dropped but, in our ability to love ourselves and embrace the ups and downs...because sometimes ya just have to drive to the gym, roll out a yoga mat and stare at the ceiling ;) (see we all have our off days). It is winter after all and with winter comes holidays and with holidays comes food...lots and lots of yummy food! Enjoy it!
2. Try Something New!!
Break out of your routine, your body and sanity will thank you for it! This past week in Connecticut we were “blessed” with over 16in of snow over four days. Roads weren’t plowed so I wasn’t getting to gym...so I slapped on some snowshoes and hiked around my backyard, my street and driveway for an hour! It was so fun to be outside with my dog and while I didn’t exactly make #gains I still got my heart rate up and my body moving! Science has shown that changing up your routine every once in awhile can help break through the weight-loss plateau, prevent injuries, etc. (read my post on 7 reasons why you should do it here)
3. Workout with Friends!
Turn that weekly happy hour into an even happier hour by taking a yoga or zumba class together. Go for a walk or run together. You still get your time together to catch up, gossip and plan how you’re going to conquer the world...but, now you’re getting a workout in too and you won’t dread leaving your warm bed as much! Win win!! (here’s a partner workout to try!)
4. Workout at Home
There are so many bodyweight exercises you can do from the comfort of your living room! Who needs dumbbells anyway! YouTube (or TheFitGirls365 #shamlessplug) is a great resource to use, there are so many free guided workouts on the internet these days! Also, I don’t normally like to consider housework exercise, but the winter months make me a little more lenient...if you really can’t get to the gym and you really can’t stand the idea of planks or squats in your living room, try chores with a twist! Do deadlifts with the full laundry basket, climb in and out of the attic a couple extra times while cleaning; do things that get your heart rate up, get creative!
5. Sign up for Races, Challenges, etc.
I run all of my races in the summer because the sign-ups are over the winter. This, one, gives me something to look forward to in the coming months and two, gives me a goal to work towards. When I am working towards a goal, my motivation to actually get up and run or go lift is that much higher than if I were to just casually stroll into the gym. Look for fun themed races or events, ones with cool medals, or maybe even ones that you would have to take a little vacation for! Hello Hawaii Marathon!
Enjoy this chilly time, because soon enough I'll be writing a post on how to beat the summer heat...sort of looking to those 5am runs, sort of not. 
xx J