For those of you approaching your first winter at Gas Station Fitness, we have put a little survival guide together. As we approach winter there’s little arguing that it’s at least a bit more difficult to get motivated to train. The call of your warm home and the sofa is often more enticing than shifting tin for time and trying to complete AMRAPs. So here are some guidelines to keep you training and healthy through winter.
Motivation
Your coaches and the general environment of the gym, are motivating. However, you’ve got to get yourself there first, and that’s down to you. There are some things you can do to keep your levels of motivation up.
- Set goals. We have a board dedicated to achievement. Commit, use it, get involved, and stay motivated.
- Check-In.
- If you haven’t already, get to know the community and who trains at similar times to you. Become accountability buddies and set each other penalties for not showing up.
- Suck it up. If you really care about your health and fitness, turning up to training isn’t hard.
Wear the Correct Clothing
Base layers are essential in winter. They keep you warm but are breathable. Thanks to the bigger market now, you can find lots of cost-effective base layers. Get the tops and bottoms. You’ll soon warm up and will want to lose the layers.
- Keep your hoodies/sweaters and long pants on during the warm-ups and skill work, and back on during the cool-downs.
- Keep your warmer outer layers on during strength sessions to stay warm during all the rest time.
- We don’t and can’t heat a space the size of an industrial warehouse, get used to it, winter training is fun and tests your metal.
- Grow your hair
Eat Well
You are more likely to make poor food choices in winter. Your dietary habits will affect your immunology, and given that the immune system is a bit weaker, you need to fuel yourself properly.
- Get your Omega-3 fish oils in. Not only do they help your immune system, but they keep the joints healthy too.
- The longer hours of darkness during the winter can lead to drops in serotonin levels, which may cause the sad feelings known as the winter blues. It can even bring on some food cravings. Eating healthy carbohydrates can boost serotonin. Try: nuts, whole grains, sweet potatoes, squash.
- Vitamin C, found naturally in fruits and vegetables, can help boost your immune system and prepare you to fight a cold or the flu.
- Our body usually absorbs vitamin D from the sun’s rays, but in the winter natural absorption becomes more difficult. Adding supplements to your diet this winter may help reduce your risk of developing depression and unhealthy cravings.
- Zinc, naturally found in fish, dairy, eggs, and some cereals, can help ward off infections.
Show Up
Ultimately you are responsible for getting yourself to the box. Take ownership, turn up and you’ll enjoy it. Is it going to be more challenging? Absolutely. But you signed up for this knowing it’s not Hot Zumba. It’s tough. It gets results and it will be a great feeling when you get to the start of spring knowing that you survived winter at the box and are all the better for it.
Layer up and show up …
If you want to find out more about how we can help you train throughout the winter months and beyond then visit our website to book a FREE consultation
Written by Barry Fleming – Head Coach
