How To Get Yourself To The Gym When It’s Freezing!

Womenshealth.com feature our own Philip Schreve for the following article. Although winter can be a tough season to stay fit in, with freezing temperatures and dark skies occupying both mornings and early evenings, it’s actually one of the best times of the year to get to the gym. The progress one makes during the June to August period will drastically help to get into excellent shape for showing off toned bodies next to the pool or at the beach during the summer holidays.

Philip Schreve, Head of Training at Zone Fitness, understands how challenging it is to remain disciplined during the winter chill. He outlines four ways to stay fit, motivated and injury-free during winter… 

FIND A WORKOUT BUDDY

“It’s difficult enough getting out of bed when it is a warm summer’s day, so it’s nearly impossible during winter. The solution for this is to find a gym partner that relies on you. Having someone to aid your motivation, knowing you’re not only letting yourself down, but letting your partner down as well by skipping gym, should give you that extra bit of ‘oomph’ to get going. Motivation remains the biggest obstacle in getting to the gym every day, especially on cold mornings,” he says.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

“One of the biggest problems with winter workouts is that you get bored with your routine, which adds to the temptation of skipping entirely. Therefore vary your workout routine to avoid boredom. Some variation in your workout also keeps your body on its toes. Your muscles get used to routine just like your brain does, so some variation aids stimulation,” Schreve states.

WARM UP BEFORE YOU GO

“The winter chill also has an adverse effect on your muscles. The cold weather means your muscles are colder and stiffer, which can lead to tearing. It goes without saying, but give some extra attention to your warm-up in winter. Don’t skimp on this as you don’t want to end up with torn or stretched muscles, which is not fun for anyone,” he adds.

TRY A GROUP CLASS

“Try out some group workouts like spinning or yoga where there’s someone else to talk to about how cold it is outside. It makes the gym a more social experience. For those people who are competitive, this type of workout is ideal in terms of motivation,” Schreve concludes.