Winter blahs

What!? The winter is the time to grind 😭. Sleeping in sounds nice and all and the grey weather kind of induces that feeling but take the opportunity in being locked inside and work on yourself!

I think it's fairly normal. I usually take November and December to just kind of relax and enjoy the holiday season. I still go for a walk pretty much everyday, but I don't do a whole lot more than that. I like having my fire going with some hot tea and a cozy couch and good movie or show this time of year. Come January I get back into gear which unfortunately means a couple of months of indoor exercise (not my favorite), but it's only a couple of months. We start getting spring teases mid February or so around here.

I don't enjoy my Winter fitness activities even close to as much as my good-weather ones. It gets quite cold, icy, and snowy here every Winter. (Temperatures usually down to -10 to -15 F (-23 to -26 C) at some point(s).)

Mostly, I make a plan for my Winter workouts, then day to day act as if it isn't something I make a decision about, it's just something that I *do*, much as I might do laundry or grocery shopping. That mostly works.

It helps me that I love my Summer activities so much I'd do them even if they weren't good for me (but they are). So, some of the reasons I stay on track are:

* I don't want to start over from fitness level zero come Spring
* I can work on some of the skills I need for the summer stuff, in addition to the conditioning
* After being active for a long time now (years), I recognize that I gradually get grumpy, moody, stiff, depressive, etc., if I'm inactive for more than a few days
* I'm already old; I don't need to also be (more) incapable
* I want to stay independent and capable (out of assisted living facilities!) as long as possible

There are other reasons, but those are a few.

Other than the occasional walk when it's not brutal outside, it's all indoor stuff. I like to hibernate, too. Pre-pandemic, I went to spin classes a couple of times a week. Now, I pretty much just work out at home. I've accumulated a fair bit of equipment over the years, which is nice, but a lot can be done at home, even in an apartment or single room, with minimal equipment.

When it cold I don’t feel like doing much out doors but I’m forced to walk the dogs so I walk about a mile with them Some days it’s 29-32 YouTube has great exercise videos.

I hate the winter too! I love to walk outside but I can't do this colder weather. I just ache. So I'm back to exercising indoors, and looking for days in the 50's which we sometimes have in winter. I can't let them get past me, I need to make myself get out there. ha

~ Alfred Wainwright – he of the many walking books.

I'm only applying this to walking. And while I will walk in drizzle, I haven't bothered getting gear for rain. But it exists!

Sure, I'm more motivated if it is at least in the 50's (F) and sunny, but fortunately, I don't rely on motivation.

Between forcing myself (if needed) to get out there, and taking vitamin D and Wellbutrin, seasonal affective disorder isn't really a thing for me any more.

Yeah, winter is hard. All my favourite places to walk and run are quagmires from months of rain, and each day I have to plan for the windows of time where it’s not raining, and it’s not dark, and I can get out.

(Yes, I have all the appropriate gear to go out in the rain, but I still find it unpleasant for many reasons).

I’ve got some strength and flexibility workouts I do when I’m stuck indoors, but honestly I’m mostly just taking a lot of naps.

BrianSharpe wrote: »

mcc66 wrote: »

The cold weather makes me want to hibernate. I’m a bit concerned as it’s only December.

I guess I'm a "real" Canadian. I love winter and getting out in the snow to snowshoe, cross country ski, skate on the world's longest skating rink (it didn't open last year due to climate change and we've had above average temps so far so it's not boding well) even walking the dogs is more invigorating. I must confess, however, that I'm not brave enough to cycle outdoors once the snow flies. It's all about dressing appropriately (it occasionally gets down to -40 here) and finding activities that you enjoy.

The picture below is from a 10km run a few years ago when it was about -36C outside....

You're my hero!

In the 70's in Massachusetts, I skated every winter. For a long time now, there's been no winters consistently cold enough to completely freeze the ponds.

I wasn't able to snowshoe at all last winter - usually I can do it at least a few times.