Winter Workouts: 5 Easy Ways To Stay Fit During Winters.

It’s a typical cold winter morning when you wake up to a foggy day, its cloudy outside, no sign of sun and low visibility, and the cold winds demotivating you to step out of your warm cozy house. In this scenario workout or gym will be the last thing on your mind, all you would want to do is to cuddle up in your quilt and snooze for some more time.

This is the harsh reality of ruthless winters, where the whole universe seems to be working on an anti-fitness plan. We end up eating more during this season (usually more carbs), physical activities take a sabbatical as we don’t want to be outdoors and increased consumption of hot beverages like tea & coffee to stay warm, so practically we drift away from a healthy routine and lifestyle.

This is what we end up doing mostly, eating junk & drinking out with friends

Trust me I have been there and done that, even to the extent of thinking that who cares about looking thin under layers of warm clothes. But yes, the increasing size of my waistline under those layers end up waking me up from the lazy winter slumber.

Our movement to Beijing started in October last year, last 3 months have been very hectic and challenging for me, and in this whole chaos my workout routine went from erratic to almost zilch. And now at the new apartment I’m still in a process of finding a health club. The crazy winters and good food in Beijing definitely added few kilos and inches. But there are few things that I kept doing as my routine which prevented me from excess weight gain (considering the amount of good food and wine that I’ve been living on).

So here’s what you can do to prevent that extra weight gain in winters:-

• Walk the talk: – Walking is the key, I know it’s a tough call during the winters. But layer up well and walk instead of taking a cab or driving. We don’t have a car out here in Beijing and we use the Beijing Subway which is a great public transport, hence I end up walking a lot. And it helps, I always do a brisk walk so that it generates heat in my body and I end up burning some calories. Take up hikes or trekking tours on weekend with friends or family, it’s fun and less tedious when such activities are done with a group.

•   Watch what you eat: – Yes as much as it may seem difficult, eating healthy and right always helps. Winter compels us to eat more carbs hence it’s wise to stay away from junk and fried food. Snack on fruits and keep your dinners light. Avoid tea, coffee and switch to green tea.

• Magic of Yoga- Yes, yoga is magical and works wonder on our bodies, internally and externally both. I follow some basic asanas at home by following YouTube videos. It’s convenient, indoors and helps me to stay fit. Hence, invest in a yoga mat, trust me it won’t let you down.
• Dance your way to Fitness: – We all love to dance, because it’s fun and the best part is that it helps us to burn calories. Alternative workouts have been introduced to make workout fun and interesting. Search for Zumba workouts on YouTube and that’s your key to getting into shape without going outdoors. Tune into your favorite music and bring out those moves. One can also enroll for a proper Zumba class, its great fun doing it in a group.

• Wonders of Water- Yes, that’s my secret of maintaining weight. I start my day with a big glass of hot water with lemon. It helps in increasing metabolism and detoxification. And ever since the time I have moved to Beijing I drink hot water throughout the day. It helps in cutting down excess fat and washes out all the toxins. Water is always good for good skin. So keep sipping on the hot water, it works wonder for your body and skin.

With the temperatures plummeting at this time of the year, we all tend to feel lazy and lethargic. But if we manage to stick to few of the above 5 points we can survive the weather without the additional weight. Always remember a healthy and fit body adds up to your confidence.

Stay fit, healthy and confident.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR READERS

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS TO STAY FIT & HEALTHY IN WINTERS?