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Keeping the winter weight off

Here in the UK, we aren’t given many warnings when the nights start drawing in, often leading to accidental jogging and cycling in the dark which can be scary and the perfect excuse to stop altogether. Before you start having to hide your extra rolls under woolly jumpers, here are a few ideas on how you can keep on top of exercise this winter.
Get up earlier
In the early weeks of October and November, the best part of the day is 6am when the sun is rising. It’s so beautiful that you’ll forget that you are running altogether! If you don’t think of yourself as a runner, a brisk walk that gets you out of breath is a great place to start. Once you’re feeling comfortable walking at pace, find some exuberance and add in the occasional two-minute jog between walking.
Embrace Youtube
Fitness instructors have moved to the video blogging channel of YouTube and some of the best workouts are entirely free. All you really need is a bit of space and a yoga mat if you’re going to be doing floor work. The UK’s favourite fitness coach, Joe Wicks, has a number of short but effective workouts for you to try. Simply search for The Body Coach on YouTube and you’ll find lots of workouts, whether you’re a beginner or a toned athlete.
Join a gym
One of the most popular reasons that people stop going to the gym is down to intimidation and embarrassment. Another reason is money, but as gym memberships tend to decline in the winter you can usually find lots of good offers at this time of year. In fact, here at General & Medical, we are offering discounted gym memberships if you take out our Medical Health Insurance.
Once you’re a member again, mix things up with a Personal Trainer, regular classes and plenty of rest days in-between. You’ll see your body grow stronger and maybe even make some new friends at the same time.
All the gear
One of the most popular ways to get motivated to exercise is a bit of online shopping to refresh your workout wardrobe. Although there are possibly a few people who are yet to remove the tags from said gear, it’s a good place to start. If you feel confident in your new running leggings, chances are you’ll want to get them on show in the gym or out running!
Try something new
With darker nights and less time to use up outdoors, it’s the perfect opportunity to take up a new hobby. Research local squash, badminton or swimming clubs and get involved! Swimming is especially great in the winter because it might even trick your body into thinking you’re back on holiday, even better if there’s a sauna at the pool too.
Fitness and health are extremely important when it comes to looking after your general wellbeing. Try to exercise at least twice a week to lower your risk of obesity and disease. However, sometimes no matter how much we look after ourselves, we can still face frustrating health problems.
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