3 tips to stay motivated and fit this winter

The winter months are filled with many parties, work gatherings, traveling, sweets, and alcoholic drinks. Staying fit during these months is extremely important both physically and mentally for our bodies.

Now is the best time to dive into a new health plan and start to make positive changes to your life.

Here are a few tips to help you stay active and energized during the cold winter months:

1. Keep moving.
Try to take 10,000 steps per day. If it's too cold out, you can still meet this goal by taking the stairs, shopping at the mall instead of online, or going for a quick 10-minute walk around the office. Wearable fitness technology such as activity trackers, smart watches, heart-rate monitors, GPS tracking devices, and even your smart phone make it easy to count steps.  Not only will it keep you motivated but it will kick start your metabolism and provide you with more energy. Grab a friend, family member, or co-worker and start your own step challenge.

2. Create your own interval workout.
Choose your top five favorite bodyweight exercises — I'm sure squats will be on everyone's list. On days when you feel like you need a blast of movement or don't have time to fit in a workout, do all five exercises for 30 seconds each. You can start simple with push-ups, planks, and lunges. Or you can also get more advanced with the exercises and try burpees, mountain climbers, glute bridges, and bicycle crunches with scissor kicks.

3. Explore fun ways to get the family moving.
Family gatherings usually involve too much food and too much sitting around. Find fun ways to get everyone outside. Reinvent old traditions in movement-based ways. Instead of watching football on TV, get everyone outback to play your own game of football. Don't forget to bundle up — once you're out and moving, you'll warm up.

Robyn Weisman provides in-home customized personal training, corrective exercise programs, and nutrition counseling services in the Center City area. She specializes in corrective exercise for improved movement, muscular imbalances, and injury prevention, as well as overall strength conditioning and lifestyle improvement.  To learn more, visit resultsbyrw.com.

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