Winter months

I am unstoppable. Bring on any season and any type of weather and I will find a way to make progress.

BUT if something were going to slow me down it would be this MUGGY and HOT weather. Walking out the door is like getting smacked across the face. The humidity makes me feel like an ant under a magnifying glass when the sun is free of clouds. It sucks the life out of me. I have not let it stop me but it is not as easy. I don't even sweat that much but I am still going through multiple shirts each day.

Except for adding layers which adds time to getting out cooler weather is easier. I have many outside fall projects lined up just waiting for sub 80 degree temps.

One thing I like about the snow is footprints - I can see who, man or beast, uses the same trails as I do. Behind my house, it's mostly deer, rabbits, and coyotes.


^This. I also am an introvert, so being outside snowshoeing is a great pleasure and a good workout. I live in Vermont and as long as you're layered up it isn't bad. And the beauty on a cold day with sparkling snow is unbeatable. I'm lucky to be able to walk out my back door and have logging trails and backwoods. And hauling in firewood is a good work out too. An old timer once told me, "the cold keeps the riff-raff out." But now I joke that maybe "the cold keeps the riff-raff in". lol. Living where the temps drop below zero isn't for everyone, I agree. As long as there's snow I'm happy.

onward1 wrote: »

One thing I like about the snow is footprints - I can see who, man or beast, uses the same trails as I do. Behind my house, it's mostly deer, rabbits, and coyotes.


^This. I also am an introvert, so being outside snowshoeing is a great pleasure and a good workout. I live in Vermont and as long as you're layered up it isn't bad. And the beauty on a cold day with sparkling snow is unbeatable. I'm lucky to be able to walk out my back door and have logging trails and backwoods. And hauling in firewood is a good work out too. An old timer once told me, "the cold keeps the riff-raff out." But now I joke that maybe "the cold keeps the riff-raff in". lol. Living where the temps drop below zero isn't for everyone, I agree. As long as there's snow I'm happy.

I live in Vermont too!! Now I'm curious as to where you are. When my PCP recommended MFP to me she said a lot of people had told her they'd had great success here. So my first thought was wow, wish I could get to know some of them and form a walking club. But then ya know...introvert....solitude. Anyways, HI neighbor!

Yes, I find that too: it's dark in the mornings and evenings so harder to find motivation to exercise, and comforting, warming food is more important...

It's a season of wrapping up in a cozy cocoon, eating comfort foods, and evading the outside world as much as possible. Yes, doesn't do much for the activity levels, being social(not a big change over the past 9 months there) and eating green salads.
Plus, when you wrap yourself up in more layers it's easier to not think of the extra weight that might be accumulating under there.
My saving grace(I think) will be shoveling, and creating healthy hearty soups.

I hate winter! I used to not mind the cold so much, but as I get older, I hate it more and more. Now I'll have to do my conditioning outside, and I'm not looking forward to it.

I think I’m part bear! As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter my nature is to want rest and be lazy!
Also, things like cycling, walking and running become harder and less enjoyable. Yard work dies as well so not as much opportunity for non exercise activities. In autumn I will have a ton of leaves to take so I’m hoping that helps.

@kshama2001
Yet kindred spirit!

Spring forward, fall back isn't just about the time change!

I always slack off in the fall. It's part of our natural cycles. It's a good time to do chores and catch up on all the stuff you weren't doing all summer. And, rake leaves and shovel snow.

We are in such a drought right now that we'd welcome any kind of precipitation, hot or cold. They've predicted chance of rain today and the next couple of days. I say 'Bring THAT on!!' People are running out of water.

Reading these posts make me feel really grateful that I live in So Cal. I am pretty close to the beach and I love early morning walks (like 5-6 a.m.). Believe it or not, it does get cold here at night, so I do have to layer up more for my morning walks in the winter. Other than that, I do yoga classes on Zoom, YouTube videos, etc. I like being outside, but I have really missed the gym these past months, and who knows when that will be an option again.

garber6th wrote: »

Reading these posts make me feel really grateful that I live in So Cal. I am pretty close to the beach and I love early morning walks (like 5-6 a.m.). Believe it or not, it does get cold here at night, so I do have to layer up more for my morning walks in the winter. Other than that, I do yoga classes on Zoom, YouTube videos, etc. I like being outside, but I have really missed the gym these past months, and who knows when that will be an option again.

Me, too. Grew up in the mid-west and northeast and realize I have no reason to complain even a little about "winter" weather in southern california. I get to choose to go to the snow, it never comes to me (though this is 2020--I may eat those words! )

You won’t hear me complaining about winter. I like it. Love walking in winter. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was my 35 mile commute, in snow, and I especially didn’t like freezing rain. I’m retired now, so no more of that. I would be so sad living somewhere it doesn’t snow. Hate, hate, hate the humidity. Florida never has to worry about this old lady becoming a snowbird. BTW, it’s 49 degrees here right now.

cathrynjtaylor wrote: »

Feel im slipping back a bit with my exercise and eating routine. Does anyone find the winter months harder

In terms of exercise, my exercise and really, my activity level in general takes a dip. Diet wise I do fine as we make a lot of soups and stews and they are nice and warm and comforting, but not really calorie bombs or anything.

I struggle more with diet in the summer in large part because we just have more social gatherings and whatnot than we do in winter...hosting backyard BBQs and pool parties with lots of good food and beer are pretty common, as are my weekend group rides that very often terminate at a brewery. But I typically get in quite a bit of exercise in the spring and through the summer and into early fall.

I struggle more with exercise in the winter because the bulk of my exercise is cycling outdoors and it's pitch dark and cold at the times I would typically be able to cycle. I have an indoor bike trainer, but I find it insufferably boring so I'm not all that consistent with it. Going into winter, I also have a bit of burnout going on...I'm usually going pretty hard from January through December and when October rolls around, I'm just kinda ready to veg a bit.

I have a few things going for me this year in that regard...I'm not burnt out at all this year because I've been sidelined with injury since May and just started riding again last week...I've been out of the game for about 5 months and right now I'm more than ready to get back in the saddle. I'll also be working from home as I have been since March which will allow me more flexibility in regards to when I can ride. Save for some days here and there, winters are relatively mild here, so mid day rides while the sun is out are very doable...I just didn't usually have that opportunity pre-covid. I'm also motivated to get the 10 or so pounds I put on last winter off...that is pretty normal, but I usually take that weight off in the spring going into summer with as much cycling as I usually do...injury pretty much left me maintaining rather than dumping last years winter weight. I've also had some other health issues creep up over the last 5 months not being able to exercise, so that is motivation to get back out there as well.

In past years I've also taken up spinning classes in the winter to help keep up with things...I don't typically care for stationary cardio, but I always though spin was pretty fun and it's an excellent workout. I stopped when I switched gyms about 5 years ago and my new place didn't have spin. I did pick it back up this past January when I switched gyms again, and it was a lot of fun.