I was speaking with a girlfriend today that lives in the Detroit area, which has had their share of harsh winters. Ironically, the winters in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country have been far more severe than what she has experienced so far. I always ask how her workouts have progressed. She was disappointed that she has not maintained her consistency and noticed that the gains she made in her strength training class has fallen short as a result. She attributed it to the Winter Blues.
She is in Detroit without back-to-back blizzards in a week and still has the Winter Blues. So I know many of my clients, class participants and future clientele possibly have the same issue. This weather makes you want to snuggle under a warm blanket on the couch, lounge and snack on comforting foods. You are tired of shoveling, tired of looking at the snow and tense up at the mere mention of another possible inch.
It is so easy to succumb to these feelings of fatigue and tension by grabbing something quick and unhealthy (comfort foods) to eat rather than thinking about what your daily food intake should be. It is also true with exercise. When you fall off track, you have to get back quickly because it is harder the longer you stay away. Even when there is a blizzard and you are home bound, that is the time to take 30-45 minutes or even an hour to get a workout in. What else do you have to do? Your health and well-being is worth that hour. When you exercise, endorphins are released. These are the natural feel good chemicals your body releases. So get moving, eat healthy and get out of the winter blues!
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