When the weather is warm and sunny, it’s easy to lace up your shoes and head outside for a walk. But when fall arrives, the nip in the air may kill your motivation to go outside for a workout. As it gets colder with each passing week, you may find it more challenging to keep up with your walking and fitness goals.
Personal trainer Stephanie Mansour has heard all the excuses and she’s sharing her top tips to continue your workout routine without letting the weather get in your way.
- Get competitive and challenge yourself - If you’re a solo walker, you may be tempted to stay inside and avoid the chill, so Mansour recommends signing up for a virtual walk or step challenge to compete against other walkers. You can also use an app like RunBet that turns walking into a game by switching up weekly challenge requirements like alternating rules of time, length, and frequency.
- Gear up appropriately - What you wear matters and if you’re comfortable, you’re likely to feel more motivated. Layering up is helpful so you can take off jackets or hoodies as you move more and warm up.
- Lace-up the right shoes - Avoid toe-tingling numbness by investing in socks and shoes designed to keep feet warm and dry. Most sports shoes are designed to let air in to cool your feet, which is great when it’s hot, but not so much when it’s freezing outside.
- Listen to something you love - To further challenge yourself, only let yourself listen to your favorite music, podcast or audiobooks during your walks. Knowing you’ll get to hear it may serve as the extra push you need to stay active in the colder months.
- Know when to head indoors - When it’s just too cold to walk outside, don’t. If you have a treadmill, use it or head to the gym and hop on theirs. And if you don’t have access to one, you can always just walk around your house in circles or at a shopping mall so you can get your steps in while you’re nice and warm inside.
Source: Today
Photo: Getty Images