8 Ways to Keep Motivated to Stay Fit This Winter

1. Keep lifting. Surprise your muscles by mixing up your resistance training program. Now might be a good time to shift from free weights to machine weight training. Gym membership specials abound during January and February, the time when most people resolve to get back on the fitness horse again.

2. Try something totally new. Have you ever tried boot camp training? Or belly dancing? Or a hip hop fitness class? Now’s the time – grab a friend and enroll in a class this week.

3. Change your routine. Spice up your favorite activity. If you run outdoors, bring it inside for some high intensity interval training on the treadmill. Or if you’re a die- hard elliptical trainer, try walking outdoors.

4. Get a buddy. If you’re working out solo, try making a gym date with a friend or your partner instead of going to the movies or out to eat. Afterwards, relax with a couple of protein packed smoothies.

5. Set a new goal. Give yourself a new reason to work out. Pull out your calendar and circle the next big event you’ll be attending (wedding, vacation, party). Or sign up for a fitness event like a 10k run or cycling. Let that be your motivator to work out.

6. Get a gadget. Resistance training bands, the popular Nike fitness watch, downloadable workouts for your Ipod or MP3 player – there’s nothing like a new toy to raise your motivation level!

7. Eat the cookie. Buy the shoes! Don’t forget to reward your hard work. Reaching a fitness goal earns you an excuse to treat yourself! Get a massage, a new fitness outfit, or have a fun cheat meal with your friends. Whatever you choose, just enjoy it and don’t get the guilts.

8. Take a break. Typically, your body needs a 7 day rest every 6 weeks to help grow and heal muscles. That’s not possible for most of us, but pain or continual low energy could be a sign your body needs some R & R. Take at least 1 day off a week, and maybe a couple – just don’t be gone too long!

You have plenty of good reasons why you're not exercising enough. But for every obstacle to physical activity, there are multiple solutions to help you get in a workout.
Try these strategies to overcome barriers to exercise:
Lack of time
Identify available time slots. Keep track of your daily activities for one week, and identify at least three 30-minutes time slots you could use for physical activity.
Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to work or shopping, walk the dog, and exercise while you watch TV.
Carve out fitness appointments. For example, walk, jog, or swim during your lunch hour, or take fitness breaks instead of coffee breaks.
Select activities requiring minimal prep time, such as walking, jogging or climbing stairs.
Lack of social support
Explain your interest in physical activity to friends and family. Ask them to support your efforts.
Invite friends and family members to exercise with you. Plan social activities involving exercise.
Develop new friendships with physically active people. Join a group, such as the YMCA or a hiking club.
Lack of energy
Schedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you feel energetic.
Convince yourself that if you give it a chance, physical activity will increase your energy level; then, try it. Commit one month to the endeavor and then assess if you feel more energetic. Unless you are overly rigorous in your workouts, you'll have far more energy than you did before.
Lack of motivation
Plan ahead. Make exercise a regular part of your daily or weekly schedule and write it on your calendar.
Make a regular date with a friend for an active get-together, and write it on both your calendars.
Join an exercise group or class that meets regularly.
Fear of injury
Always spend a few minutes doing light activity before and after your exercise session. Warming up and cooling down help prevent injury.
Learn how to exercise appropriately considering your age, fitness level, skill level, and health status. You can have one session with a trainer, get a prescription for physical therapy, take a book out of the library or start with an exercise video.
Choose activities involving minimum risk such as walking.
Lack of skill
Select activities requiring no new skills, such as walking, climbing stairs or jogging.
Exercise with friends who are at the same skill level as you are.
Find a friend who is willing to teach you some new skills.
Take a class to develop new skills.
Lack of resources
Select activities that require minimal facilities or equipment, such as walking, jogging, jumping rope, or calisthenics.
Identify inexpensive, convenient resources available in your community such as programs at colleges, community centers, the parks and recreation department, at work or at a YMCA or YWCA.
Poor weather conditions
Develop a set of regular activities that are always available regardless of weather (indoor cycling, aerobic dance, indoor swimming, calisthenics, stair climbing, rope skipping, mall walking, dancing, gymnasium games, etc.)
Rather than relying on them as the basis of your routine, consider any outdoor activities that depend on weather conditions (cross-country skiing, outdoor swimming, outdoor tennis, etc.) as "bonuses"—extra activities possible when weather and circumstances permit.
Travel
Put a jump rope in your suitcase and use it.
Walk the halls and climb the stairs in hotels.
Stay in places with swimming pools or exercise facilities.
Join the YMCA or YWCA and ask about reciprocal membership arrangements.
Visit the local shopping mall and walk for half an hour or more.
Family obligations
Trade babysitting time with a friend, neighbor or family member who also has small children.
Exercise with the kids — go for a walk together, play tag or other running games, get an aerobic dance or exercise tape for kids (there are several on the market) or just run around after them at the playground. You can spend time together and all get your exercise, plus the kids will be calmer after expending some energy.
Hire a babysitter and look at the cost as a worthwhile investment in your physical and mental health.
Jump rope, do calisthenics, ride a stationary bike, or use other home exercise equipment while the kids are playing or sleeping. (Take safety precautions to ensure they don't get injured if they have access to home exercise equipment.)

Get Ready - Get Set - Get Motivated!

There comes a time when we decide we’re going to turn over a new leaf, bite the bullet – whatever euphemism comes to mind (usually at the beginning of the New Year!) – and get in shape, have more energy, or just eat cleaner and live healthier. Whatever your reason, starting off is usually the easiest part. The trick is maintaining the motivation once you realize how much time and effort goes into achieving your wellness!
The following are my personal top 10 reasons to GET MOVING. As you read through this, I encourage you to really think about your personal motivation for physical wellness.

We all know that exercise is the perfect wellness prescription for the mind, body and soul. But how do you move from weekend warrior or off/on exerciser to making it as much of a habit as brushing your teeth or taking a shower? Start with a journal! Keeping track of your goals by writing, taking photos, and charting your workouts and eating habits will make your success a reality.

1. First ask yourself: Why do you want to get fit? Are you trying to get in shape for an upcoming event? Do you want to lose weight, sleep better, increase your energy, gain strength, add muscle tone and flexibility, or just feel a heightened sense of well being? Write your reasons down in your journal and go back and re-read them to remind yourself when your motivation lags.

2. Set both a short term goal (over a 4-8 week period) and a long term goal (a year). You need a benchmark. Tie your goals to your reasons for working out. Write them in your journal. Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Manageable, Appealing, Realistic, Timely. For example, losing 25 pounds in a month is not realistic, but losing 20 pounds in 10-12 weeks might be (no more than 2 pounds per week).

3. Take photos of yourself each month in your workout gear so you have a visual record of your results. Keep these in your journal as well.

4. Make sure you are using proper technique. You want to avoid injury, above all, so check with a doctor or personal trainer if you experience any pain, or if you are not sure whether you are doing a particular exercise correctly. Injury is a sure fire way to lose motivation!

5. Get a workout partner! It will help hold you accountable and working out with another person challenges you to achieve goals faster. If you prefer to work out alone, keep your motivation going by choosing an activity you enjoy doing and add some pumping music to keep up your energy.

6. Write down the excuses or stories you’ve used in the past that have kept you from achieving your goals. Then write down why you’re not going to live your stories anymore.

7. Mix up your workout as you progress toward your goals. Move through plateau by increasing the intensity or the duration of your workout, or by trying a new workout or sport. Your body learns how to do an exercise after a few weeks of doing the same thing so it is important to routinely change what you do. Whatever you chose, make it something you enjoy.

8. Don’t beat yourself up. If you miss a workout or two or three – chalk it up and get past it. Don’t take the attitude that since you haven’t worked out in 3 days, you might as well blow it off for the rest of the week. Get back on the horse!

9. Schedule your daily workout on your to do list and in your planner. Treat it like you would any important appointment or meeting that you wouldn’t dare cancel. If you can, work out in the morning before the day’s business threatens to derail your intentions.

10. Commit to keep growing. You will reach your goals. Don’t give up. Ever.

Sweat Out the Tough Times!

My prescription for these tough economic times is to strap on your running shoes, pick up some hand weights and work it out! These uncertain times have ramped up everyone's stress level - including mine! And while you can be tempted to become immobilized on the couch, fence, or whatever - you need to do exactly the opposite.

In fact there is no better time than right now to focus your energy on your body and on you - be selfish! I find my mental clarity shoots up several notches after I get those endorphins pumping through my blood. Right now I'm depending on working out to keep me sane. The uncertainty of the economy, business dropping off and the need to be ever more creative and focused place more demands on me than ever. For a while I started feeling like a worm on a hook, wriggling first one way and then another - but still stuck!

That's when I realized that life is simply sometimes just tough. You can't change it, but you don't have to be overwhelmed or defeated by it. Emotional and mental pain can do a number on your health - it will leave you without passion, motivation or confidence. That's why taking care of your health - eating supportively and working out regularly is SO IMPORTANT. It shows us that we do have control over our choices and outcomes. It's a powerful reminder that we can contribute in a constructive way to our own well being.

I believe you feel the most alone and overwhelmed in life when you're no longer participating in something meaningful. What these tough times are teaching me is that I am building a stronger, more confident me! When my lungs are screaming as I run an 8 minute mile, I'm not thinking about the negative and messy parts of my life. I'm building my self confidence and my self esteem. It's a commitment I make every day to keeping passion in my life.

Now it's more important than ever to keep moving! Get off the couch and give yourself the attention and care you deserve. I'm right here to help if you need me.