Be BOLD despite the cold!

The Fitful Alternations of the Rain

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

"The fitful alternations of the rain,
When the chill wind, languid as with pain
Of its own heavy moisture, here and there
Drives through the gray and beamless atmosphere."

Stop Percy STOP! I KNOW....it's Sooooo ridiculously COLD.
And wet. 
And windy....and...UGHhhhh.

But you still need to move. 
Need some motivation to move yourself out that door and into an exercise routine in this icy season?

Pick ONE or more of the points  below and DO it...you'll be that much closer to releasing yourself from hibernation....and heading for HAPPINESS!

1.     WHERE ARE YOU AT TODAY?. Set a BASELINE. Do a quick fitness test right now.  How many, how quickly etc.  Now establish YOUR GOAL. Attempt to achieve it by: spring/summer/that wedding/holiday cruise/school re-union…etc etc.  Or to simply maintain consistently till ______(fill in the month/EVENT)

IDEAS for the test:

• Push up

• Pull up

• Air squat

• Box squat

• Skipping for time/revolutions

• Plank hold (strict, no hollow/hammock shapes!)

  

2.    Take the “thinking” element out of it: SIGN UP now! STAY MOTIVATED by being COMMITED. Results come only with commitment and consistency. Try to exercise AT THE SAME TIME every day. If you SCHEDULE a time to do it, you'll be less likely to skip it. Keep the schedule VISIBLE, to remind you!

3.    Look forward to your alarm... Rather than a normal, annoying alarm clock, use your iPod or smartphone to PLAY a SPECIFIC SONG that gets you going.

4.     Put your WORKOUT CLOTHES in a pillow case or bag (shoes excluded obviously) and keep it WARM by popping it into bed with you the night before. When your early morning alarm-tune goes off, you’ll already have warm gear to jump into before you can start arguing with yourself! Worst case scenario…try SLEEPING IN YOUR WORKOUT CLOTHES! (…yes, OBVIOUSLY shoes excluded!)

5.  What is your WHY? This IS YOUR real motivation.

Write it down. KEEP it VISIBLE. “Because WHEN THE FIRE COMES FROM WITHIN, there is nothing that can put it out. NOTHING!” Mycal “Derz” Anders, MS, CSCS 

  

6.     Try NEW TYPES OF EXERCISE that interest you, or that current research shows to be stimulating or effective.  Make exercise MORE LIKE PLAY. The HUMAN BRAIN LEARNS best, IN THE PLAY/FLOW STATE.  Exercising this way, helps to improve mobility, spatial awareness AND your mental state!.  

7.     When you reach your goals, REWARD YOURSELF. (First full month/first push up!/first WINTER training pack purchase!) Winter is often the season when workout gear goes on sale….TAKE ADVANTAGE and reward yourself with a little token of your commitment…wear it and remind yourself of this accomplishment.

8.     EXERCISE DURING YOUR LUNCH BREAK.  Lots of us struggle in the icy dark mornings. If your work hours are flexible enough, try exercising DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.  This will warm you up and mean you can get back home guilt free. Or END YOUR WORK DAY, late afternoon with a quick training session.

9.     PHONE A FRIEND!  A WORKOUT PARTNER, who is more driven than you, will hold you accountable and help to keep your motivated when your enthusiasm is dropping faster than the temperature!

10.   Training with a SMALL GROUP/or friends can also be another great way to keep motivated through healthy social group spirit.  Being able to LAUGH, ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE each other – will keep the class more enjoyable and relaxed. A sense of SATISFACTION after completing a difficult workout IS AMPLIFIED in a group setting. Each sweaty, panting participant knows EXACTLY how hard the team worked!