Cold Weather: No Excuses

Punxsutawney Phil destroyed any optimism about the weather getting warmer. The sun recently set at 5:21pm. We think the season is the reason for the failure to exercise. It's dark, it's cold, and it blows. But cold weather is no excuse to let your fitness slide. You need to find your "eye of the tiger" to keep you warm and motivated. We like to get our workouts done first thing in the morning. Treat it like an extra class that meets every morning at 7 or 8am (or noon if you're Mickey). If you have that much trouble getting out from under those covers in the cold weather, sleep in your workout gear. Might sound crazy, but if your alarm goes off and you're already ready to go, you may find it easier to get out the door.

For those of you who like to work out in the afternoon, I'm sure the winter months prove just as difficult. When it's windy and pitch-black at 5 pm, it takes a lot of willpower to go for a run, or get to the gym. Especially when you can always walk over to The Half Pint with K. Healey and the boys for a quick pint … or twelve. Yet, if you muster the Frodo-like willpower to pass on the delicious liquid diet and go for a run, your options are to either fight the wind and freezing temperatures outside or hit the monotonous treadmill while watching reruns of awful sitcoms on TBS.

I know it's tough to stay focused on total body health over the winter, but guess what? All the cool kids seem to be planning exotic spring break treks and DBis to majestic places around the globe like Costa Rica, Brazil, Morocco, and Israel. Next thing you know, your trip will be a week away, and you might want to look good in a bathing suit to impress that dark, tall, and mysterious part-timer. Unfortunately, that steady diet of coffee and balance bars from Sosonoff is not going to cut it. If you want to look good on the beach (or in bed) the time to start training is now.

As a wise professor of awesomeness once said, "You guys are my people." We are genuinely here to help you achieve your fitness and diet goals, whatever they may be, so let's get it going.

Running outside can be great no matter how cold it is. Put on some sweats, a hat, a pair of gloves, and just remember the faster you move, the warmer you are. There is something peaceful about being one of the only warriors training out there in the freezing, knowing that you are one of the handful of people in NYC with the minerals to brave the cold. But, if you lack the determination and really don't want to leave your apartment, try a stair workout. And we don't mean on a Stairmaster. We're talking a good old fashion, Rocky Balboa stair climb. Find a building with about 10 to 15 stories. Sprint to the top like you stole something. Knock out 20 pushups, 30 sit-ups, and 40 body squats. Take the elevator down to the bottom and do that as many times as you can in 20 minutes. If you need more of a challenge, we know a building at 34th and 5th you can try.