How to Stay Motivated with Your Winter Workouts

Including regular exercise sessions in your weekly routine is key to living a healthy life. It's no secret that even mild exercise efforts can have a dramatic impact on alleviating health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

When winter hits, though, it can be tough to maintain an exercise routine, especially if your preferred routine includes outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, or bicycle riding. Before you throw in the fitness towel this season, here are some tips on how to stay motivated all winter long:

Find a New Groove. "Take an indoor class," says Jeanie Callen Barat, owner of Callen Fitness (http://www.callenfitness.com/) "try kickboxing or kettle balls. Be adventurous. Mixing it up with challenge your muscles in new ways."

Trying a new sport works equally well for squelching the winter doldrums. There are many options both indoor and out to choose from. Try popular outdoor sports inside, such as swimming, tennis, basketball, jogging, and rock climbing. Or consider outdoor winter sports such snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, or snowboarding.

Get a Buddy. Find a friend who shares your fitness goals or engage your significant other to exercise with you. The idea is to be accountable to someone other than yourself for sticking with your fitness routine.

"If you are meeting someone," says Callen Barat, "you are more likely to be there. It really sounds simple, but it works."

Set Goals. Would you like to lose ten pounds? How about participate in a 5K race in the spring or get rid of the jiggle in your triceps? Whatever your goal or aspirations, utilize the winter time to achieve them. Don't use the extra bulk of winter clothes to hide under. If you work on those abs all winter, when it's time to bare your summer midriff, you'll a lot less self-conscious when you are tone and fit.

Set a goal. Write it down and make a commitment to yourself. Let others know about your goal to gain their support. Post it on your fridge or send yourself weekly email reminders. Whatever you do, keep the goal in sight and celebrate all the mini-steps you make along the way.

"Fitness is not something that is seasonal," says John Basedow, author of Fitness Made Simple (http://www.fitnessmadesimple.com/) "You really have to go after your goals all year long. You can make excuses or you can make changes, that choice is always within your power." Winter is no exception.

So, dust off those snow boots and enjoy the winter wonderland of fitness possibilities.