I learned something important during my September challenge. If you remember, I mentioned that I was going to commit to doing something every single day, whether it was a walk, run, bike, strength training or any other physical activity. For some, that may not seem like much of a goal, but I know for others that may sound super daunting. Everyone has to work towards goals that fit YOU. My goal was to keep myself active every day. I achieved that goal and I did notice small, positive differences from doing that.
As soon as September was over and the “requirement” to do something every day was off the table, I found that I quickly let myself skip a day if I was busy. Everyone is busy. None of us having enough time in the day to do everything we want. We have to prioritize. I didn’t make daily physical activity a priority and I’ve skipped several days throughout the month. It’s a good reminder to me that I need to make a daily commitment, especially as the weather continues to turn more unpleasant.
As winter weather is on the horizon, I have started making changes to my routine. First, I’ve made a stronger commitment to walking. I’ve read (and tend to agree) that winter time isn’t the best time to make weight loss goals (especially with holiday food gatherings) but instead a time to work on maintaining fitness and current weight. I tend to walk more during a lunch break or over the weekend this time of year. I’m still maintaining my run training (I still have 2 halfs to go!) but now even switch off from outdoors to treadmill.
Second, I’ve changed my strategy for outdoor training. I got on my mountain bike the other day and rode in wooded trails. It helped keep the wind at bay and I was able to ride comfortably. I did have to time it right because it’s getting dark so early in the evening. I’ve also switched out my fitness accessories so that gloves, hats, arm warmers and base layers are readily available. A few years ago I committed to buying a few essential pieces for winter weather exercise (yes, some of which can get pricey) and they have made all the difference in getting me outdoors.
Finally, I’m already thinking about my next adventures after I wrap up my races this year. My final half marathons are keeping me motivated to stick to my training schedule and get outdoors when necessary to run. As I think about the super cold days ahead early next year, I’m targeting races I want to do, which will require me to maintain (and even work towards improving) my fitness early next year.
How do you prepare yourself for winter weather exercise? Do you move your routine exclusively indoors? Do you commit to exercising outdoors a little or a lot? How do you motivate yourself? I would love to hear your tips!
Miss FitGab
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