by Annie Vischer
No matter how hyped up about your fitness routine you got in summer, when the winter sets in, it all becomes way harder to kick yourself out of bed and head to the gym, and as for a run…have you seen the drizzle outside?! Never fear though, WORKSHOP founder Lee Mullins is on hand with tips and tricks to keep your motivation high this season.
1. Training App – When it is dark and cold outside, staying in bed can be more appealing than going outside to workout. A training app such as the Nike Training Club is great to follow as they require minimal equipment and can be done from the comfort of your home, hotel room or wherever you are in the world.
2. Eat Seasonal foods – In the winter, we tend to crave more comfort foods such as sweets, cakes and other foods which aren’t very forgiving on our waists. Choose foods that are in season such as red cabbage, carrots, cauliflower and brussel sprouts as they will be very rich in nutrients which can help stop sugar cravings.
3. Train for an event – Having a short term goal to train for will help to keep you motivated to keep moving throughout the winter. A 10 km run such as the Cancer research winter run in February helps raise money and awareness for a great cause and will also help to keep you motivated to train over the christmas period.
4. Eat foods rich in Omega 3’s – Winter can be depressing with little sun light and miserable weather conditions. To boost your mood, eat foods rich in omega 3’s such as oily fish, grass fed beef and flaxseed oil. Higher omega 3 consumption has been shown to increase serotonin levels which are essential for a happier mood. You can also take a good quality fish oil supplement such as OmegAvail by Designs for Health to boost your intake of omega 3’s.
5. Work with a trainer – Trainers are the masters of motivation and help to keep you accountable and keep training throughout the winter.
6. Boost your immune system with greens – Winter is the time when our bodies can become run down and susceptible to colds and flu’s. Boost your immune system by eating green vegetables that are in season now such as leeks, brussel sprouts, cabbage and kale. These vegetables will also help to keep you skin, hair and nails strong and healthy throughout the winter when they can be prone to damage from the elements.
7. Restore your body – Reward yourself with some restorative treatments such as a deep tissue massage, reflexology or a fascia stretching session to help keep the body supple and lengthened.
8. Boost your Vitamin D – During the winter, some people will rarely see any sun, which will mean their levels of vitamin D produced in the body can plummet. This can have a number of negative effects such as weaker bones and muscles, increased fat stores and less energy. Increase your vitamin D intake through eating whole foods such as salmon, mackerel, tune, and whole eggs, which are all rich in Vitamin D. You can also take a good quality Vitamin D supplement such as Vitamin D Supreme by Designs for Health.
9. Do yoga – Yoga is such a powerful way of increasing your mood and health. Even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes a day, yoga will is a great skill to learn that will help to keep your body feeling healthy throughout the winter.
10. Eat breakfast – The tendency to stay in bed longer and skip breakfast is easy when it’s cold and dark outside, however this can lead to craving sugar later in the day and over eating at night. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and eating a breakfast from fresh, clean, whole foods will help to boost your metabolism, increase your energy levels and reduce sugar cravings.