Fighting off the Winter Bulge

Now that the weather is getting colder, all those extra layers of clothing are piling on...are they the only layers? Don't let all that progress you made during the summer fall apart! It's soooo easy to let things slip out of your control...and then the excuses start accumluating!

It's too cold, you're too tired, all you want to do is cuddle up in your bed after a long day at work. There's less daylight out so you feel more tired or even depressed...NO!!!!! This is even the more reason you need to nip it in the bud before the laziness even gets a chance to settle in!

Being healthy is a lifestyle. If it's important to you, you WILL make time! If you are working longer hours at work, get your exercise in before you start your day! Preparation and planning, just like you're supposed to do in nutrition, is key to sucess!

There's nothing better after a hard work day to go to the gym, a class or studio to go relieve your stress! Stop yourself from going home immediately and make the time to get in at least an hour! If you're feeling tired, you won't once you start getting the oxygen pumping!

If you're not up to it, doing something is better than nothing! warmup on the treadmill or bike and I guarantee you will feel better after 10 minutes! You can devote a good portion of your time to stretching. Loosen up those muscles and realign yourself after sitting in front of the computer all day long.

Remember, this is "YOU" time. Compromising with yourself to have your own downtown will help balance you and keep you sane. Forget about your boss, your significant other, your family for that one hour. Zone it all out, take deep breaths and just pound it out or stretch it out. You will always feel better than when you first stepped through that door.

Winter can get downright depressing! I'll be the first one to vouch to that, but if you keep yourself busy and healthy, you'll stay out of trouble! Sure the holidays are coming up but by making smarter choices and certain sacrifices, you can still indulge in food and alcohol without overdoing it. Life is not all egg whites and oatmeal!!! Yuck. If you're good for the most part and work on your balance, you'll be just fine!

If you have a social event that day..you need to earn your meal! Did you put in your time during the week? Minimum of 3 days is a must! If not, then you had better do your cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to burn off all those extra calories! Make time! Get into a good routine of taking care of yourself!

On days you absolutely have no time to exercise, then be super strict with your eating and keep yourself on your feet as much as possible! Walking to and from work, on all your lunch break, take the stairs, get off your butts every hour to take a few steps. ANYTHING is better than NOTHING!!

I cannot tell you how many times I'd rather stay at home instead of going out into the cold. This weather totally affects me, but I feel even worse if I just sat home all day long. I feel the same just as you do sometimes which is why I need to schedule my classes and workouts for my own time.

Do what works for you so long as you take action! Otherwise, what those 5 lbs become 10lbs, then 15lbs, etc....Don't become the winter statistic. You are better than that and you owe it to yourself!

Cindy Lai Fitness