What's your action plan for the Winter months?

BoxerBrawler

I've heard from a lot of people in my circle talking about how they fell off the diet and exercise wagon over the summer due to vacations, BBQ's, parties, beach days and general summer-time laziness. From my perspective it's much easier to maintain and/or reach new goals in the summer... lean grilled meats, an abundance of fresh summer fruits and veggies, more outdoor activities, longer/warmer days. For me, heading into the Winter is a challenge. Shorter and colder days which means many activities are restricted to an inside space, it gets darker earlier which makes me feel like hibernating! lol! And of course the warm comfort foods and holidays.

Which season is easier/harder for you and why?

If you feel the Winter-time blues and struggle through the colder months, do you have a strategic plan for staying on the wagon? If so, what's your plan?

DeguelloTex

My plan is to bulk during over the winter because holidays and I don't like being out in cold weather.

discnjh

I live in southern Louisiana, so it's the opposite for me. Running is easy and actually pleasant from mid fall to mid spring. Meanwhile, running during the summer is a constant test of will.

MommyL2015

I love the cold weather right up through January. Then I'm ready for summer again. I seem to loath winter after January and I'm just so grumpy, wishing for the nice weather to return.

However, I live in the southeast U.S., so I really don't have anything to complain about because I'm originally from New England in the northeast. I think I won't be satisfied until I move to Orlando or something.

I have no real plan, just take it by the day as I have been so far. I do have my treadmill, which I love, so I'll probably stay warm by using it as much as I can.

jeepinshawn

winter and spring are very rainy, windy and cool where I live, so winter will be my challenge as well. My plan is to take my 15min breaks at work and walk the 7 flights of stairs, and make time for the gym everyday if need be. Otherwise I will have to really watch my calorie intake much closer.

Need2Exerc1se

Winter is also the hardest for me. For the same reasons you mentioned. It's the only time I need to actually "exercise" just for the sake of exercising. It's not something I enjoy. But eating less and losing strength isn't something I enjoy either so I do it. This is actually why I joined this site last year and why I chose my username.

pinkgumdrop123

I find that I eat better and workout more in the winter. I also love winter where I live so as long as there isn't a ton of snow outside, I do outdoor runs.

jeepinshawn

pinkgumdrop123 wrote: »

I find that I eat better and workout more in the winter. I also love winter where I live so as long as there isn't a ton of snow outside, I do outdoor runs.

See snow I don't mind, running in 20-30mph winds combined with rain sucks though.

patesq

I love the fall and winter but am also getting concerned about keeping up with the exercise. I've been going to the gym in the morning alone and with my husband at night. Mornings won't be a problem but my husband travels a bit and I'm not thrilled with the idea of leaving the gym by myself in the pitch black of night. He was gone this week so I went earlier than we normally do but it was still dark when I left. And this is only September. I haven't figured out how to get around this but I really don't want to mess up the habit that I've spent almost 9 weeks establishing.

VintageFeline

Winter will be my challenge, I'm in the UK so it's cold damp and dark for about 6 months. Yay. Plan of attac, log like a demon. Have bought a hooded running jacket and will buy some full length leggings and base layers too soon so I can run most of the time outdoors still as long as I do it in the morning (I have no desire t run my route in the dark). I also work out at home a lot so that doesn't need to change, it will be a matter of motivation.

I am also planning to bugger off on holiday for a couple of weeks, somewhere a bit less gloomy and they will be free fun weeks food wise.

January onwards until April/May are the worst for me so if I don't keep losing I'll just aim for damage limitation!

kristen6350

I typically lose more in the winter because I don't go anywhere. Work/Home. No vacations, hardly any occasions. Spring/Summer/Fall are my hard months because everyone want to celebrate with food/booze.

The holidays really aren't that big of deal for me. My family is small and we aren't food focused.

Liftng4Lis

To eat all the pumpkin yummies!

BoxerBrawler

Great replies a good healthy conversation for a change and hopefully put it in the front of your mind so you can begin formulating a plan.

I live in New England, enough said!
Almost all of my activities are confined to gyms/fitness centers so I don't mind the indoor stuff too much, but I do love to run so that will come to an end if we get another 20 feet of snow this year! LOL!

This will be my first set of holidays without my mom so all of the comforting holiday treats won't be around, so I won't have to worry about that part of it.

pstegman888

I really took advantage of summer to move more, eat fresh fruit & veg, and
prepare simple fresh meals with grilled meats. I'm concerned about winter as I too go into hibernation and comfort food mode. I'm gathering some lower cal crockpot recipes so I will be prepared. I'll have to have good snacks around & keep up with my logging. I do have a gym partner so we will keep each other accountable. I am determined not to backslide even if my loss rate slows slightly.

sscarmack

The same thing I've been doing??? haha

kbmnurse

Just going keep doing what I am doing. Will head down to the treadmill and work out DVD's more due to inclement weather.

lemurcat12

Winter is the hardest for me, since I like to run and bike outdoors and I live in Chicago.

My plan this year is to use the winter to focus on weights and other gym stuff that I enjoy but have been ignoring in the summer and to get back to watching my diet more carefully which I think will be easier to do when doing less cardio (I had something of an insane schedule for a while because of triathlon training). I'm also going to try to be better than last year at keeping up with running outdoors during the cold months.

pinkgumdrop123

cushman5279 wrote: »

I live in New England, enough said!
Almost all of my activities are confined to gyms/fitness centers so I don't mind the indoor stuff too much, but I do love to run so that will come to an end if we get another 20 feet of snow this year! LOL!

I am in Toronto..last year was a weird winter and we got hit with a lot of snow as well and I was forced to move my runs to the gym. Lets hope last year does not repeat itself!

SuggaD

Its much easier for me in the summer. Summer is tri season, peak cycling season, kayaking, and just generally very active days. Winters I do fine for the first couple of months and then really want to hibernate. I still work out but my running and swimming fall off. Not this winter though.

My plan: Until coach-forced time off from training (month of December), I will stick with my current training plan, though increased run mileage as its marathon season (I'll do a couple of half marathons). During December, I'm staying with my master's swim team and increasing my swimming. I'll start cycling with my clubs again. Keep up with my weights. Also start stair-climbing again at the gym, which I love, but haven't been able to do due to training schedule. And I will practice moderation over the holidays.

maidentl

discnjh wrote: »

I live in southern Louisiana, so it's the opposite for me. Running is easy and actually pleasant from mid fall to mid spring. Meanwhile, running during the summer is a constant test of will.

Haha! Yes! I am in Texas. We do go through a bit of a cold spell around Jan/Feb but as much as I hate the cold, I prefer running in it to the 100+ degree days of summer.

snowflake930

Hate the hot humid weather. The only day that I have missed doing something (walking or going to the gym and most days both) was a day in January 2014 when it got down to -34 F and with the wind chill colder than -70F. I live in Minnesota, and we know what winter is about, and can not use it for an excuse as our winters are long. If you dress for it, and it is not too windy, it is not bad at all.

The fact is, I would much rather be out in below 0 weather than the past month that has been hot and humid. There is nothing like being out in the cold and coming into the house and sitting by a warm fire. Fall is a glorious time of the year, my favorite time of the year. I grill year round, and make a lot of soups/chili in the winter.

tomatoey

Winter is actually easiest for me (fitness compliance wise), bc I mostly need to do stuff in the gym, and it's hard to resist the desire to be outdoors during sunny days (but I can't do tons of outdoor things. Like it pains me to be inside when it's gorgeous out.)

Exercise boosts my mood, so it's a huge help with coping with the misery of winter. My gym is really close by, I walk there - I have a very warm coat and good waterproof boots that make getting there no big thing.

If you work out at home, get really good lighting, paint, put plants in there - make it a comfortable, energizing space.

ARC1603

I like autumn and winter months best and find it much easier to lose weight around this time of year. I live in the UK, in semi rural Wales. If I didn't go out in the cold and dark I wouldn't leave the house for half the year! I just get my coat, hat, gloves, waterproofs and wellies on and go out walking as normal. I love going for a walk in the winter evenings and getting back home to a nice warm and cosy house.

DeguelloTex

maidentl wrote: »

discnjh wrote: »

I live in southern Louisiana, so it's the opposite for me. Running is easy and actually pleasant from mid fall to mid spring. Meanwhile, running during the summer is a constant test of will.

Haha! Yes! I am in Texas. We do go through a bit of a cold spell around Jan/Feb but as much as I hate the cold, I prefer running in it to the 100+ degree days of summer.

Hey, it's only 85 at 4:30 in the morning!

Need2Exerc1se

snowflake930 wrote: »

Fall is a glorious time of the year, my favorite time of the year.

I so agree with this sentence. I'm a hiker and there is nothing I love more than crunching through the fallen leaves surrounded by all the beautiful fall colors. Winter is another story. Where I live it is either piling up snow or the snow is melting and a freezing rain is falling. Makes hiking on the steep hills precarious.

Lourdesong

My plan is to keep myself bundled up and warm. Last winter I had already lost quite a bit of my 'insulation' and every time I started to feel cold my instinct was to get food to warm me up; instead it should have been to put on more clothing.

When I figured this out it really made me wonder just how many times in my life did I eat to remedy being cold.

Last winter was particularly miserable for me, I used to love winter too, not so much anymore. Not looking forward to it one bit.

PaulaWallaDingDong

I plan to just keep doing what I'm doing, and forgive holiday dinners and parties.

kshama2001

DeguelloTex wrote: »

My plan is to bulk during over the winter because holidays and I don't like being out in cold weather.

What does "cold" mean to a Texan?

tomatoey

Lourdesong wrote: »

My plan is to keep myself bundled up and warm. Last winter I had already lost quite a bit of my 'insulation' and every time I started to feel cold my instinct was to get food to warm me up; instead it should have been to put on more clothing.

When I figured this out it really made me wonder just how many times in my life did I eat to remedy being cold.

Last winter was particularly miserable for me, I used to love winter too, not so much anymore. Not looking forward to it one bit.

The last two were absolutely brutal in my area. I also used to like crisp air, pretty snow, etc when I was younger, but now HATE winter and everything to do with it. (That's why I need exercise most then & it's easy to do.) +1 stay as warm as possible and make everything around you as cozy and bright as possible. Use any trick you can think of - colours (I refuse to wear anything black, so depressing), definitely as much light as possible (I'm thinking of getting a SAD lamp).

Oh also - VITAMIN D3 DROPS WILL SAVE YOU

maidentl

DeguelloTex wrote: »

maidentl wrote: »

discnjh wrote: »

I live in southern Louisiana, so it's the opposite for me. Running is easy and actually pleasant from mid fall to mid spring. Meanwhile, running during the summer is a constant test of will.

Haha! Yes! I am in Texas. We do go through a bit of a cold spell around Jan/Feb but as much as I hate the cold, I prefer running in it to the 100+ degree days of summer.

Hey, it's only 85 at 4:30 in the morning!

Right? I plan my walks/runs to end at sunset now. It's still hot but at least the sun is not BAKING my face off.

kshama2001

cushman5279 wrote: »

Great replies a good healthy conversation for a change and hopefully put it in the front of your mind so you can begin formulating a plan.

I live in New England, enough said!
Almost all of my activities are confined to gyms/fitness centers so I don't mind the indoor stuff too much, but I do love to run so that will come to an end if we get another 20 feet of snow this year! LOL!

This will be my first set of holidays without my mom so all of the comforting holiday treats won't be around, so I won't have to worry about that part of it.

Shovel!!!

I lost my Dad last year. Condolences.