Exercise... not many of us like buckling down and doing it, but we all know how good it is for us! My issue in recent years is finding the time to get it done. Usually my workout cycle begins in the new year. I like many, want to improve my habits and be better about certain things and the whole month of January I do good. But then February comes and by Christmas I look at my goals from the start of the year and am disappointed for not following through!
My workout routine really got moving during this summer. But I found myself veering away from that path as soon as our summertime schedule became busy. Now we are in fall/winter and I had to wonder if starting a workout routine would be easier during these cooler months. Besides my struggle of not wanting to get out of a warm bed first thing in the morning, I wondered if there were any benefits to starting a workout routine in the winter...
I took to the internet and found some interesting facts and research about why now is the best time to start a routine of exercise.
The rate at which our bodies burn calories is higher in the winter. This is because our bodies are using more energy to keep us warm. This was so interesting to me! It can still be difficult to give up a cozy morning routine, so a helpful tip of mine is to schedule a workout session during the time of day that works best for you. I had it drilled into my head that it had to be the first thing I did in the morning, but I like squeezing a session in them around 1 in the afternoon. Make it YOURS, and it will work for you!
This is the season most of us become inactive. We get into baking sweet treats and cozying up with cocoa, blankets and our favorite holiday movies. We do a lot of resting in the winter, because the cold outside is just not very inviting and honestly the stress of the season makes us want to veg out! Because of our inactivity, moving our bodies will help to improve our blood circulation. This gets the blood and oxygen flowing to all of the necessary organs in our body, helping us to heal faster, think clearer and to keep our hearts and even skin healthier!
I know many of us picture exercise to be long sessions of sweating and running out of breath and let's face it just the thought of being tired after a workout makes getting up and doing it feel like a chore. I have talked about making it fun with something like a dance class or the Nintendo Switch game Ring Fit, but a bit of advice for a novice in exercising is to start small. Start with doing a 2 minute "burst." 20 seconds running in place 20 seconds resting and alternate between moving and resting until the 2 minutes is up. You'll get your blood and oxygen moving, your heart pumping and it's a step in the right direction!
No surprise that exercise reduces stress, and winter may be one of the most stressful and depressing times of year. Exercising lowers our blood pressure, as well as releasing endorphins, making the Holiday season a healthy and relaxing one!
Those quick bursts also get your metabolism working too. Not that I know from experience 🤣 just what my Dr. Told me.