Five Winter Fitness Slumps to Avoid

So here we are, winter. There's been snow and cold in most of the country and it can be a very hard time to stay on top of your fitness routine. The days are shorter, there's holidays where it seems like all we do is eat, we're generally busier, so it can be hard to avoid a slump during these months.

Here's five ways to avoid a workout slump during this time of year.

1. Think Spring
It might be hard to do with 3ft. of snow on the ground and sub zero windchills, but in just a few short months, Spring is going to return and you don't want to be clocking extra time at the gym in March because you slacked off now, right? Maybe adding some fresh fruit and salads here and there will keep you thinking more about warm weather and less about wanting to stay under your blanket and hibernate until Spring.

2. Give yourself scheduled days off
Sometimes the cooler months are great and we really push ourselves a little further. Runners especially like the cooler weather to work on their distance and interval training. Just remember to schedule time for rest. One to two days a week. This will keep you balanced, and give your body time to rest and heal. Pushing too hard might lead to burn out, injury, and more time off away int he long run.

3. Have a 'blah day' workout in mind, just in case.
If you don't want to leave your warm, comfy house, have a back up plan in the winter. Whether it's fitness DVDs, a small home gym, those fun new interactive video games, have something handy to use if you're just not feeling like you want to brave the elements. This way you won't miss a day and start a domino effect.

4. Get 3rd Party Accountability
If you don't have a workout buddy, coach, or trainer that can keep you accountable, enlist some help from friends and family. Have them check in with you and make sure you're sticking to the routine. And don't pick a softie like Aunt Erma who's going to bring you buy a plate of warm cookies when you miss a routine, pick someone that will both hold you accountable and motivate you.

5. Keep it fresh!
You can't do the same thing day after day all year long. So get out and enjoy the weather and the fun you can have in it! Go sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, all the fun things we can enjoy in the winter. Just because you are a swimmer/runner/yogi/spin class enthusiast doesn't mean you can't get a workout in other ways as well. It's actually good to change things up a bit and use different muscle groups every now and again.

No matter what, the biggest component in avoiding a fitness slump is movement. Just keep moving. Once you stop, you tend to lose your momentum, and then before you know it, you're climbing out of a slump instead of avoiding one.