Forcing yourself to exercise during long winter days instead of just wanting to stay under that warm blanket can be very hard – and then, of course, there’s all that seasonal food to try and ignore too, perhaps even harder a mission!
But there are ways to get motivated and keep your body in trim over the winter period. In fact, we’ve come up with SIX ways to stay energized and prevent weight gain during the winter season – using your stationary bike stand. Oh yes, your indoor trainer becomes your own personal gym over the cold, winter months, and really can be a boon to staying fit and in trim!
And even though your intentions are good – oh yes, you really did go out and spend those $$$ on that spanking new stationary bike trainer – these SIX tips should help you steer clear of temptation and that warm, cosy blanket for good…
Tip 1: First up, we’re going to get you stretching, even before you get on your stationary trainer. Try to stretch your body as much as possible, to get your muscles warmed up and prepared for work. Rotating your trunk and touching your toes are great ways to start stretching. If you want to do more stretching exercises, do some leg swings or knee-highs. Concentrate on your legs because these are the areas where most of your energy will be focusing on in your training sessions.
Tip 2: Start warming up! Start pedaling, but only to keep your muscles energized. Sit in a comfortable position, and gradually increase the rate for around 4 to 5 minutes. This activity will get your muscles ready for a more serious workout, which is coming in the next couple of tips.
Tip 3: Start increasing your pedaling to build up a good sweat! You want to feel like your body is really working, and that you are breathing harder. Don’t slow down, and keep going at this rate for the entire session. If you want to lose some weight, it’s been scientifically proven (OK, we don’t have the scientific proof!) that you need to do some cardio exercises for 60 to 90 minutes.
Tip 4: If you want to take your training session to a new level, begin using some interval training. This means that you have to keep pedaling at an intense rate for 30 seconds, and then slow down for 30 to 60 seconds. Keep doing this for around 10 minutes, or as long as you incorporate it inside a longer training session. These intervals are great for burning off that winter belly fat!
Tip 5: Utilize the resistance levels of your trainer to create a stronger workout session, which will help tone your leg muscles and improve your cardio efforts.
Tip 6: Start slowing down for 4 to 5 minutes. Plenty of fitness experts recommend this, since it really does help your muscles relax after an intense session.
Let’s face it, if you can keep up with these six tips over the winter months, say 3 times a week at 45 minutes per session, that winter belly will disappear in no time! Good luck!
