MORE motivated in the cold months?

phil2k17
phil2k17 Posts: 316 Member
edited 10:00AM in Fitness and Exercise
Curious if anyone else is more active in the colder months of the year. Every September, I am at the gym at least four times a week doing weights and cardio. As soon as April hits, my motivation plummets and all I want to do is hang out by the pool and drink beers lol. Anyone else enjoy the motivation from the colder months? For all those year round motivated people, what's your secret?
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Replies

  • FL_Hiker
    FL_Hiker Posts: 919 Member
    edited November 2018
    Yes for sure!!! I live in FL so summer time means hot, humid, and bugs... not the best for running and doing things outside besides swimming. I’m really looking forward to the cold front coming this weekend! In the heat you can’t do much about it and risk heat stroke, in the cold you can always throw more layers on and go. I read somewhere that above 75F when you’re running the body’s efficiency quickly plummets. One day I want to move somewhere with lots and lots of snow... It would be so fun to go sledding, snow boarding and skiing all the time!
  • JessAndreia
    JessAndreia Posts: 540 Member
    I've noticed that I definitely need to be following a program (that I somewhat enjoy) to feel motivated. I've tried going a bit without following one and just doing whatever I wanted, and found myself then skipping the gym for a month. Other than that, the weather plays no part on my motivation.
  • lalalacroix
    lalalacroix Posts: 834 Member
    I'm active during the hot months but more active during the cold ones. I guess I just love the opportunity to sweat a little less
  • confidenceinrain
    confidenceinrain Posts: 104 Member
    Yes, because when I get home from work my flat is really cold and even if I'm super tired I don't want to sit around freezing.
  • Pizzacake_
    Pizzacake_ Posts: 11 Member
    Yes I train at the gym a lot more in the winter. Probably cause it’s cold and I’m not out socialising much now so I spend my evenings in the gym
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I am more motivated when it's colder outside. I don't like hot weather and think that I have reverse SAD. Give me cold, gray, and cloudy and I'm happy as a lark. I shrink away from warm sunbeams.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited November 2018
    My motivation to work out doesn't change but I'm a lot less active because it's always dark after work. During warmer months I'm outside a lot in the evenings with my kids. Right now, not so much. I don't mind the cold and I like snow, but I hate the darkness. It's so depressing.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    confidenceinrain wrote: »
    Yes, because when I get home from work my flat is really cold and even if I'm super tired I don't want to sit around freezing.

    This is me. Planking warms me up in 30 seconds. I basically spend the winter making abs out of cookies. I wish I could just eat my weight in fish for a couple months, then hibernate, though.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I love running outside in the winter, you can always put on another layer while in the summer you can only take off so much without getting arrested. I don't get as much riding in but that may change now that I broke down and bought a smart trainer so I can use Zwift & TrainerRoad. I swim more in the summer as open war is far more enjoyable than swimming laps and then, of course there are winter activities like x-country skiing & snowshoeing (I'm exceeding lucky, I live a few hundred metres from recreational paths & trails)
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,354 Member
    Season makes no difference to me. I drive to the gym in the dark every morning all year round.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I lift, but I'm not much of a gym rat regardless of the season. I'm a cycling enthusiast and I hate winter because it's dark in the morning and dark in the evening and cold out on the road. I usually have to force myself to get on the indoor bike trainer during the week and wait until a nice weekend afternoon to do a road or trail ride.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    While I find myself more active in the spring and summer since I am usually trying to lose, in the winter is where I am most motivated and dedicated since I am usually bulking. For me, building takes more work, dedication and consistency.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I'm more active in the winter also, mainly just to stay warm. I also tend to eat a bit less because I hate going grocery shopping as it is, let alone when it is cold and snowy out.

    Summer is harder for me to do cardio as I get too hot, so I switch to mainly lifting in the summer. Doing circuits helps keep up my cardiovascular endurance though.
  • StargazerB
    StargazerB Posts: 425 Member
    I'm pretty much motivated the same throughout the year. It probably helps that I'm in the desert and we don't really have seasons. I definitely enjoy outdoor activities more when the weather is in the 60-80s. But for weight training the weather makes no difference for me.
  • DawnOfTheDead_Lift
    DawnOfTheDead_Lift Posts: 753 Member
    I would say I'm more focused in the winter months. All of the activities have died down other than holidays. All there is to do is to go to the gym and not die.

  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
    Im more active in the summer because it's warm and there is always a lot going on. I don't have to bundle up, shovel snow, pre-heat my car. Winter is a big hassle in Chicago! However, during the winter I have more of a plan because I don't run. Much more weightlifting and trying out new strength programming.
  • DaytimeDuchess
    DaytimeDuchess Posts: 34 Member
    Only to shovel snow, it's my favorite type of exercise! Otherwise, I despise the freezing weather!
  • AliNouveau
    AliNouveau Posts: 36,287 Member
    All my favourite activities are winter activities. I always find it easy to lose weight in the winter because I'm so much more active. Today alone I skated and curled. Once the outdoor rinks are open I'll skate even more. I'm very Canadian
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    I run faster in the cold. Maybe it's because the sooner I finish, the sooner I can go inside. Maybe it's because I overheat easily when it's warmer. Maybe it's just because winter means I'm coming off fall training season and I picked up some speed...all I know is that I've been flying (relatively speaking) for the past couple weeks.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I lift, but I'm not much of a gym rat regardless of the season. I'm a cycling enthusiast and I hate winter because it's dark in the morning and dark in the evening and cold out on the road. I usually have to force myself to get on the indoor bike trainer during the week and wait until a nice weekend afternoon to do a road or trail ride.

    Come up here for a week in January and try cross country skiing. As a cyclist, you'll take to it like a fish to water.
  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    We have so many daylight hours in the summer. But I find I am much more likely to commit to a program and routine in the winter time. When the kids are in school. Spring a summer are for hiking and camping and gardening and sitting on the deck and farm stuff. Bales and fencing and bales, bales, bales. I am gettin I’m movement but I do better when I have a program and a routine in my head to stick with. In the inter I can hit the gym during the cold mornings and then walk/snowshoe/ski in the warmer afternoons and hope the wind dies down in the evening for a bit to get out after chores. A snoweshoe in the moonlight is my fave!
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I lift, but I'm not much of a gym rat regardless of the season. I'm a cycling enthusiast and I hate winter because it's dark in the morning and dark in the evening and cold out on the road. I usually have to force myself to get on the indoor bike trainer during the week and wait until a nice weekend afternoon to do a road or trail ride.

    Come up here for a week in January and try cross country skiing. As a cyclist, you'll take to it like a fish to water.

    I would really love to go cross country skiing. I've been only one time, when I was around 11. My mom and I decided we wanted to try it so we went to the park and rented skis. We laughed so much because we fell down so much. I'm not even sure if there is a place around where I live now that rents out the equipment like that.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    I am definitely more active in the winter in terms of exercise because I am less sociable, however my NEAT would be higher in the Spring/Summer because I walk more often in the sunshine, overall it probably balances out.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I lift, but I'm not much of a gym rat regardless of the season. I'm a cycling enthusiast and I hate winter because it's dark in the morning and dark in the evening and cold out on the road. I usually have to force myself to get on the indoor bike trainer during the week and wait until a nice weekend afternoon to do a road or trail ride.

    Come up here for a week in January and try cross country skiing. As a cyclist, you'll take to it like a fish to water.

    Just wish it wasn't a weekend only thing. Our local area is opening soon.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Definitely, but because I don't enjoy hot weather and get lethargic and averse to going outside.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I lift, but I'm not much of a gym rat regardless of the season. I'm a cycling enthusiast and I hate winter because it's dark in the morning and dark in the evening and cold out on the road. I usually have to force myself to get on the indoor bike trainer during the week and wait until a nice weekend afternoon to do a road or trail ride.

    Come up here for a week in January and try cross country skiing. As a cyclist, you'll take to it like a fish to water.

    I love cross country...we have some great areas up in the mountains here. Unfortunately, it's not something I can do during the week which is my biggest issue in staying active. I can still get out and ride most weekends as we have pretty mild winters in ABQ and highs are usually mid 40s-mid 50s with sunshine most of the time...it's just the weekdays that are hard.

    I used to ride at lunch most days, but my schedule only allows for that on Tuesday and Friday now.
  • lgt2015
    lgt2015 Posts: 30 Member
    I thought I was the only one! I naturally lose weight without trying in the winter because I skate ski in the mornings with my dog instead of walking (significantly higher calorie burn), and I snowboard as much as possible. I actually have to try to stay strong in the warmer months so I can keep up with my crew snowboarding. I just struggle with this time of year when there is no snow yet (where I live) and it feels like midnight when I leave work so I don't want to go to the gym.
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I am more motivated when it's colder outside. I don't like hot weather and think that I have reverse SAD. Give me cold, gray, and cloudy and I'm happy as a lark. I shrink away from warm sunbeams.

    THIS!
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