Maintaining fitness through the colder months is challenging for everyone, motivation comes to a screaming halt, desire to consume comforts foods is at an all time high and sitting in your uggs and onesy on the couch sounds far more appealing than dragging yourself up in the cold to get some training in. The cycle or pattern which most peoples training tends to follow is very predictive. in the spring we are motivated to loose the winter months gained kilos, in the summer we want the bikini body for the beach thus the motivation remains and into the beginning of autum we are feeling awesome and have our routine down pat. Then comes the one or two colder days …… brrrrrr skip training today …too cold!! Day light savings is over !!! Before you know it your 5-6 days a week training routine becomes 2-4, training gets harder as your fitness drops off and you muscles begin to feel the effects of DOMS more than you would like…suddenly your awesome training regime has become non existent and you feel tired and listless, thus encouraging more rest.
It is important to recognize that this will be the case for a large percentage of us and to plan ahead. If you do the majority of your training outdoors, after work, a lack of daylight is going to be a problem.. Training during your lunch break at work or finding a class you enjoy to join for the winter is probably your best bet. But you could think outside the box….winter time is footy time so there is always a footy club training close to you with there lights on 2 times a week .. No harm in running the boundry and adding a few body weight exercises, easy 2 sessions a week. move 2 of your sessions to the weekend or your days off, many hours of daylight available, easy 2 more sessions a week and then there is always the local heated pool, hopefully with a sauna, laps and a nice warming sauna sesh!! sweet! training organized.
This could also be a good opportunity to do the things you say your always going to do. Like participate in Hot yoga classes or Pilate’s classes. Indoor rock climbing is another fun and interesting way to get a total body workout. This winter I’m taking Jiu Jitsu a few times a week. Its a fantastic way to improve strength and flexibility while learning something new.
Staying on track is always going to be the hardest during the colder months. So write a plan with goals. Set realistic and achievable goals with a fitness training program to match…AND STICK TO IT. Share it with as many people as you can, friends, family ,fellow competitors… we need someone to be accountable to. This definitely helps to keep you motivated to train, as you have told your whole universe what your planning and they will ask questions about how your doing and be interested in your progress.. Perhaps set some similar goals with some of your riding peers and include fitness improvement in your plans for your competition future.
Now is the time to be setting all this in place, before June hits and the real chill of winter sets in. The most rewarding part about staying on track for the winter is you won’t be back to square one when the urge to shed the winter kilos strikes. You will be ready to take the next step in your fitness evolution and take on a few new goals and challenges, that won’t have to be based solely on getting your weight back under control and your fitness back up to scratch.
Train Hard. Eat Well. Rest
