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These Dark Times
Welcome to the beginning of December…and the end of 2011!
I wrap up this week addressing a timely issue raised by my colleague, Joe. He wants to know how we can stay motivated to workout during these dark times. I’m not referring to the state of the economy or the political shenanigans going on in Washington. I’m literally talking about the dark days we must endure between now and the springtime.
Many of us leave our homes each morning in the dark only to leave work at the end of a long day and find ourselves enveloped in darkness once again. Add some colder temperatures to the mix, and it can become all too easy to look for any excuse to ditch your exercise plans, change into comfy clothes and make a bee line for the couch. So here are a few ways to stay on track:
- Don’t Leave Home Without the Workout Wear: If you normally exercise after work, make sure to bring a gym bag to the office. If you have to go home to change before your workout, you’ll only find yourself face-to-face with that all-too-tempting comfy couch.
- Get Physical at Lunchtime: If you usually head to a gym for a morning workout before heading to the office or after dropping the kids off for school, why not consider moving your workout to lunchtime? Even if the sun is hidden by some wintry clouds, it will be brighter in the middle of the day and sometimes that’s all you need to boost your mood and get your butt into the gym. This could also be the perfect time to see if a group exercise class you’ve been curious about is offered at midday.
- Make a Workout Date: Plan to meet a friend for that morning power walk, lunchtime step aerobics or evening Zumba class. The “guilt” factor involved with not showing up for a friend may be all you need to keep you committed to your scheduled exercise plans.
I leave you with this final tip: remembering how good you feel after a workout may provide the biggest incentive to help you stick with your routine even on the darkest days of December. Never underestimate the power of that post-exercise endorphin rush as you continue on your journey to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Blame It on the Potato Skins
I had planned to come home after work and write another post about some sort of foam roller or core exercise, but the potato skins got in the way.
With Deanna Earlier This Year on the High Line
Work has been a bit overwhelming lately. Lots of deadlines, lots of demands. After a busy morning at the office, I was at a studio filming the December edition of “Health & Home Report.” When we wrapped filming the show, my boss let me shoot a couple of fitness-related videos for future shows. (Be on the lookout for those in early 2012!) Afterward, my makeup artist and dear friend, Deanna, decided to catch up over a glass of wine before heading home. That one glass turned into two and we both noticed they had loaded potato skins on the menu. Neither of us had indulged in either – a second glass or loaded skins – in quite awhile. Ultimately, Deanna and I decided both went extremely well with some quality conversation and laughter among friends.
So I find myself once again writing about familiar territory. You simply can’t plan everything all the time. You make a plan to go to the gym after work, but then you get a call from that friend you haven’t seen in months who is unexpectedly in town thanks to a business meeting. There’s no reason to feel “guilty” about blowing off your cardio kickbox class to get together with that friend.
For the same reason, I refuse to feel guilty about the loaded skins I shared with Deanna. I know tomorrow, I’ll “start over” with my healthy breakfast parfait featuring non-fat Greek yogurt, berries and “Newman’s Own Honey Flax flakes.” It will be a new day, filled with new opportunities to make health-conscious choices. To that end, I’ve already packed my sneakers and workout wear so I have no excuse for not attending the Zumba demo at the New York Sports Club two blocks from my office.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best laid plans can sometimes go awry, but not always for the wrong reasons. While an unexpected get together with family or friends may throw off your normal “routine,” it can open the door to laughter and good conversation. These are two crucial components in our everyday quest to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
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