I became very lazy during the summer months and stopped focusing on being fit. I was mainly focused on my diet and I have recently become vegetarian after doing some well-informed research and the brutality of the book, Skinny Bitch (worth the read if you're looking for some motivation to being healthy and what foods you should be eating). I feel so much healthier now that I have cut out meat and the majority of dairy products from my diet.
Weight loss starts in the kitchen so now that I have worked out my diet I can fully focus on my fitness and toning up my body. If you're like me, and hate being cold and wet then working out ways to workout during the colder seasons is vital. I probably won't be running outside until February. Here are ways I like to keep fit that will be beneficial during these cold months.
In the gym
When I'm in the gym I like to spend an hour on the tredmill. To most people that sounds boring and tedious, but this is just my preferred way of keeping my fitness and endurance levels up. Especially since I will be running the half marathon in March next year so this is my focus for the next few months. To keep myself from being bored during these runs I like to watch Netflix on my phone or put a really cheesy playlist on that makes me feel good and that I can lip sync too - which most likely makes me look insane but it just makes it a bit more fun and happy.
At the gym there will be several classes on during the week and will be included in your membership. So to add a bit of variety to your weekly workouts, I suggest attending two classes a week. It also allows you to learn new exercises and on days where you need motivation, you have the trainers screaming at you at the front of the class. It's like P.E lessons all over again. My favourite classes to do are spinning and boxercise. I'm really eager to try out Pilates also!
On the days that I do my cardio workout on the tredmill, I like to do my strength training afterwards. This I will do for about half an hour and do it in the mats area of the gym where they also tend to have Dumbbells, kettlebells and the power plate. The excerises I would do would target the areas I want to improve which is currently my arms, abs, bum and inner thighs. So I would do sumo squats, leg lifts, lunges, donkey kicks, sit ups, bicep curls and Russian twists.
The frequency of how often you attend the gym is down to your weekly schedule. I would suggest going at least three times a week to notice differences after a month. I like to go at least four to five times a week and set a routine for myself so I always have time to work out around university and work.
At home
Since I don't have a new gym membership at the moment since moving house (rejoining next week), I have been doing all my workouts in the comfort of my bedroom. The only equipment you need is a mat and some weights, these could be Dumbbells or kettlebells. Pick a weight that will allow you to do at least 10 reps, that way you can improve your strength and get leaner arms.
I have recently become interested in HIIT workouts (high-intensity interval training). In order to do these you need to have a base of fitness already as they are pretty damn tough. You can find a lot of routines online but I like to make mine up with a mixture of cardio and strength. HIIT workouts are intense so you burn 2% more fat and burn more calories which helps tone and lose weight. You need an interval timer as well to do these workouts which you can download an app form on your phone. I think mine is just called interval timer.
If HIIT isn't for you then there's a variety of effective workout videos online and DVDS that you can watch and follow. Insanity and 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels are my favourite DVDs to follow. They also help on the days that you need someone to scream at you and motivate you.
I hope these little tips will help motivate you and inspire you to keep fit and healthy this cold season. Just keep in your mind that your summer body is built in winter.
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