How do you exercise in winter?

[NoveltySlippers]

Hi all

I've never posted under this topic before. I haven't exercised in about two years either. Things need to change!

I was just wondering - how do people keep fit in winter?

I live near a park but I'd be too scared to run in it after dark (large urban park in insalubrious area.)

I leave the house around 8am for work, so wondering, should I go in the morning? Will it still be dark then after the clocks change? And how the heck do you find the motivation in the morning?

Should I stick to fitness DVDs instead, and are there any that people have actually finished / used? (I never seem to get past the first disc) (Or session!)

am hopeless

When we lived in the suburbs of a major city I would run at 6am every other day religiously, in fact running in the dark by streetlights by far my favourite. It was a quiet safe city and I still had music in my earphones, I felt enveloped by the dark, I loved it. I used to hate when the mornings got brighter.

Now we are back in the UK living in the deepest countryside, I am running during the day (my youngest just started reception so I have time) but as its now half term, tonight I am off for my first dark run in the country on lanes - I have my head torch all ready to go and my high vis jacket and reflective arm bands! I am quite nervous of wild creatures though I don't suppose anything will be as menacing as urban foxes that used to dart out in front of me!

I also do a pilates class during term time, have been seeing a PT once or twice a week (little present to myself for youngest starting school, MY GOD I HAVE SEEN RESULTS if you can afford it, get one too!)

I am also trying to run with some other mums after drop off on a friday, just a little 5k pootle and a chat, so exercising but socially!

Heaven knows how I will maintain the results I have seen from personal training work once the sessions finish before xmas, I don't think 3 runs a week and pilates will cut it, I think I will be a regular on here asking for tips..

Have a look on fitness blender
I don't work for them honest, but I feel like I recommend them all the time.
LOADS of free work out vids, so much variety. I particularly like the HIIT ones - but they have kettlebells, cardio, barre inspired etc etc etc

Actiongirl certainly living up to her name!!!!! ...

It was said a bit tongue in cheek but I do really blame some of my awesome fitness on housework. With three bathrooms and three floors, and an eye for a certain level of cleanliness, I do burn quite a few calories of a weekend. I don't really iron, but you could definitely include that in your workout too…

Sorry about the sex, Digger

I rely on the gym plus cycling outdoors and occasional outdoor running

I ride my mountain bike all hear round. Evenings, with off road lights and weekends if I can get a couple of hours out of the house.

Same as any other time of year!
Zumba
Body Combat
Body Pump
CX

Love Les Mills

I dont really do anything much different or see the fact of it being winter as problematic, if anything outdoor exercise is better in cooler weather.

Too dark to run here in the evenings. V rural, no way I'd feel safe

Ha ha, AMY not tonight. I got slightly freaked out by my first completely dark run, it seems led lights attract all the bugs but do not deter idiots certain drivers from seeing me on a long straight bit of road

So I will keep it for days when there is literally no other option.

On another note, I seem to have pulled a tendon in my arch, I know I over pronate in that foot and need to get some new trainers but I will be so peeved if I get an injury before I have a chance to get proper gait analysis. And I can't afford the new trainers because I splurged all my spare cash on the personal trainer!

Swimming and hill walking for me, winter and summer

I swim outdoors (lucky enough to have a heated outdoor pool near us - it's fab and actually feels nicer to get into on a cold day than a warm one), do Sufferfest videos on the Wattbike in the gym, still run outside, and do a bit of pilates at the gym.

I am contemplating investing in a turbo trainer so as to be able to train at home - especially if e.g. DH is away.

Thanks for all the fab suggestions... I do feel inspired! I'm actually amazed by how many different activities some people do and I guess that's the key to staying interested and keeping going. I'm going to try a couple of these suggestions and see what works for me. (Wish I could afford a P/T though...maybe should save?!) Of course now what I really want is an outdoor heated swimming pool!

the outdoor heated pool at my gym is still open people are MAD

I prefer running in the summer as I'm a fairly cold creature at the best of times but can keep going in winter with the inducement of various things to train for and with lots of merino base layers under my winter kit to keep me warm not clammy. Am also really happy walking for miles though it is quite time consuming. Love hot yoga but am not coping with the shift in temperature now it's so so so so cold in my car (wish could leave the engine running for the 90 minutes or so) so am wondering if I can keep it up over winter. What a baby!

Thinking about personal trainer to get me going with some free weights (esp upper body) but working out the calorie surplus needed to gain actual lean mass is daunting, I think it will be tough while running 5x a week. Don't know if I NEED one but whenever anyone mentions theirs I get the

You won't have much time for running in the morning even once the clocks change. Could you cycle to work? Or negotiate lunchtime exercise time? Otherwise a class after work?

Hmm merino base layers...that's a useful tip if I do attempt outside (at weekends).

blue - lunchtime would be nice but my colleagues tend to be 'grab half an hour for lunch' types. They'd make me feel guilty disappearing off for an hour, though I know they shouldn't!

couldnt you make them feel guilty for not exercising

also gloves and a Buff to keep my ears warm

(all this in 16c but am ok once I get going)

(half an hour running every weekday lunch time is still 2.5 hrs of vigorous exercise a week, wayyy ahead of the inactive population? but you could go every other day and still reap great benefits)

Mitchy - I don't give any thought to counting food and calories as a rule, other than not eating the white carbs/grains etc. I have lost half a stone and many inches since starting with PT in Sept over 9 sessions. He has worked miracles. Free weights, ball work, running, bands etc.

well I was thinking the other way, if you wanted to bring your weight up (and make it a lean gain) you'd need thousands more calories over the course of each week (I am a bit scared of being fat and it's mostly irrational)

I haven't changed what I eat at all, though I am chunky I think for a girl so wouldn't want to build too much muscle.

Yes irrational, as long as you are fit, healthy and can get into your jeans I'd say don't worry!

I run at night along the lanes near our house - v rural and quiet. It is dark, yes, and the woods are slightly spooky. But I have a headtorch.

I figure the chance of dying from heart attack/diabetes if I don't keep fit far far far far and another far outweigh the chance of being abducted or a deer jumping out a me.

The other night though I turned my torch beam into a field and there were 30 pairs of disembodied eyes reflecting back at me. Bloody sheep they gave me a fright.

Bumpsadaisie, I saw reflected eyes in the woods last night, completely freaked me out! A field of them would have given me the complete heebie jeebies!

(I got knocked over by a doe once when I was walking some dogs! In daylight!)