Winter workout: Baby, it’s cold outside!

Time to change it up for the season. Here’s my winter workout strategy

We had our first major snow dumping in Minnesota this past week (so pretty), and when I awoke this morning it was -4 degrees in St. Paul.

Brrrrrrrrrr! Winter has officially arrived. Dean Martin’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!” came to mind as my feet hit the hardwood floor early this morning.

Does anyone have trouble staying motivated to workout in the winter when the weather turns?

I do. And I decided a few years ago when we hit record low windchill I had to change up my workout routine for the winter. Although I absolutely love to be outside walking the lakes after a fresh snow, or hiking to the mountaintop in a magical winter white forest, that’s often not possible. MN winter is unpredictable. So, since a workout is better than no workout for this in the equation girl, I adapted and developed a new plan that works for me.

Here’s my winter workout strategy.

My winter plan is to bring it to the gym at least 3x per week. I joined my local community center so I can walk to workout, even if there’s a blizzard. No excuses! I combine that with my new favorite indoor workout — the Metabolic Aftershock that I can do at home 3x per week in 20 min to get in a fat-burning, high intensity workout with strength training, flexibility, etc.

Walking the lakes outside in the winter then becomes a bonus. When the weather is about 10-15+ degrees and/or it’s nice and sunny, or when I have a friend who wants to walk, I’m there!

When I approach exercise with a plan that works for me, I don’t dread it. By combining outdoor activity with indoor gym workouts, I get consistency and I don’t get bored or tired of it.

Have some fun. Embrace winter by being in it!

The other thing I integrate into my winter workouts is time doing my all-time favorite things — mostly hiking. Last weekend, I explored the magical winter woods on Minnesota’s North Shore and celebrated six years climbing my Oberg Mountain. I’m also joined some winter hiking meet-ups to get out and find some new trails in the Twin Cities.

I am fortunate to work on the North Shore of Lake Superior so I get there every couple of months in the winter for great winter hiking and  snowshoeing.

Changing it up for winter and implementing a new exercise routine — a non-negotiable routine — means I’m less likely to “blow it off” when it gets cold outside and I don’t want to get out of my warm bed in the morning. Who knows that feeling?! It also helps me to not get in a rut, something that is important to help me stick with any exercise routine. I like variety. How about you? What works for you?

So, here are my tips for developing a winter workout strategy

My advice always is to do what you enjoy…what works for you — without comparison to others. You’re way more likely to stick with it when — “baby, it’s cold outside!”

Honestly, the key with anything in the realm of learning to put yourself in the equation is to do what works for YOU. Just spend 5-10 minutes thinking about it and deciding what winter workout suits you best. Then develop a plan and a routine. Make it non-negotiable and, if you can, make it non-weather dependent if you live in a winter climate like Minnesota or Maine, where I spend my time.

I’d love to hear from you? What is your winter workout strategy? What’s your favorite winter activity? Do you change it up with the seasons? Let me know in the comments below.

Stay warm, happy and healthy this winter!

Cheers,

Lori

View my photo gallery from my Winter Hiking on the North Shore last week, Dec. 10-11, 2016:

Read some of my other blogs about fitness and exercise here: