Winter is quickly approaching, there's no denying it. Let's be proactive NOW and not let it be the reason we pack up our running shoes, high in the closet and head for the couch, deal? Yes, the shorter days and weather can make it a challenge to keep our bodies busy. To help us stay active during the shorter days and chilly winter months, we caught up with personal trainer, Mary Beth Einhorn from Redefine Fitness, www.redefinefitness.com/blog, in Atlanta, Georgia to get some pointers on how staying active can keep the blood flowing, our lives active and our bodies healthy.
"It’s dark. It’s cold. Maybe it’s snowing. It’s winter!" For most of us, this time of year seems to counteract any attempts we make at staying active. We’re sluggish and we don’t feel like bundling up to go outside and risk the chilly and slick conditions of the pavement. Snuggling up under a blanket with a cup of cocoa sounds like a better idea, doesn’t it?
During this time of year, it is understandably hard to stay active – something that is better for your health than sitting around the house for several months straight. So how do you combat the winter blues and the holiday weight battle? There are a couple key things that you can do that are simple, free and beneficial.
First, in order to keep energy up so you CAN stay active, you need to make sure you take care of yourself from the inside out. And that is sleep – regular sleep. Your body operates under a circadian rhythm (daily cycle controlled by light), and since mind and body are related this affects all of your internal systems. Your body works much better as a whole when given the chance to repair/heal itself and function as nature intended. Aim to get to sleep by 11:00pm (when melatonin levels rise) and get 6 to 8 hours. With a balanced diet, this will translate to better daily energy.
Second, instead of battling the weather outside to keep fit, you can just get back to the basics. An easy heart-pounding exercise during the cold months is climbing stairs. Without leaving the house, you can climb up and down stairs for 10 to 15 minutes (harder than it sounds, but make sure you do a slow 5-minute warm up). If you live in an apartment or condo building, you can use the stair tower down the hall. Work in a few other gravity-type exercises like jumping jacks and a couple sets of crunches and core rotations on the floor, and you have an instant 20-30 minute workout that's not scary.
Remember it may take a few days (or weeks) to adjust to the new sleep schedule and exercise routine. However, good sleep and regular physical activity will be helpful in keeping you healthy through the cold months of winter – and don’t be surprised if you become more resistant to cold and flu! Vary some of the exercises so you have fun and keep your mood, energy and weight level throughout the entire winter!
About Mary Beth Einhorn: As a personal trainer, she focuses on maintaining proper form and function to prevent injury, as well as programming around pre-existing ailments, injuries and imbalances while maintaining flexibility in each client’s program design. She also specializes in holistic health and nutrition. She maintains her personal trainer certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) also holds a CPR/First Aid/AED certification.
In her free time, she spends her time tutoring children, volunteering with animals, and volunteering with various community associations. You can learn more here, www.redefinefitness.com/blog or on the Redefine Fitness--Facebook page.
About Brian Ouellette: A career that spans over 10 years as a money manager in Chicago, NYC, Seattle and market commentator for FOX News this Morning. He is founder of Shoewallet Active Gear LLC, www.shoewallet.com, which provides lightweight wallets for active people. Featured on NBCs Today Show, CNN, amongst 100's of other media sources on TV, radio and in print, Shoewallets are available for purchase online and as a private label product.
He's also founder of recently launched Pro Athlete Direct™, www.proathletedirect.com, which allows brands, companies, events, non-profits to connect, network and collaborate with professional athletes and their sports agents.
Brian has an interest in a wide range of industries, partnership creation and possibilites. View him on LinkedIn or Twitter. He can be contacted at brian@shoewallet.com or at 800.618.4630
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