Friday, January 19, 2018

Winter Fitness Challenges

Overcome the winter blues with these great ideas.

Working out in the winter can be hard. Finding the right challenge can help you find your motivation.


Full disclosure, living in Hong Kong means that I don't have to worry about snow storms or below freezing temperatures. I also won't be burning calories anytime soon doing cool things like having a snowball fight, cross country skiing or just shoveling the driveway. But I do have to deal with seasonal issues like shorter days, gray skies and colder temperatures.  All things that can zap my motivation.

There are many ways to stay motivated in the winter and keep moving.

Here are five of my favorite fitness challenges to help when I'm struggling with motivation.

1. Winter Warrior Challenge

The goal is simple: run as many miles as you can during a set amount of time. Many of the online challenges start in December or the first of the year, but you can still do a winter warrior challenge on your own or with friends. Check your local running store. Many have on-going challenges that work on a points system for showing up. You can even win prizes.

2. FAB ABS February Challenge

FAB AB February is one of my all-time favorite monthly challenges. A 30-day challenge is perfect for people who have trouble getting started and staying committed. It also helps that you can literally cross the days off the calendar. Just about anything can be turned into a 30-day challenge (or even 21 days if your prefer). At the end of the month, you can start a brand-new challenge that focuses on something else.

3. Yoga with Adriene

Yoga with Adrine is perfect for people who want to work out at home - whether it's because you don't want to pay the high price of a yoga studio or your just prefer the privacy of your own home. With a large selection of videos and 30-day collections, Yoga with Adriene lets you stay out of the cold and in your comfy clothes.

4. Instagram Challenges

Need visual motivation? Participating in an Instagram challenge lets you easily be motivated by others doing the same challenge - just search the # (hashtag). Saucony has one going right now. These challenges can pop up at any time, so be sure to check out what hashtags your sweaty friends are using.

5. Sweat A Day Challenge

A perfect all around full body fitness challenge that will push your limits DAILY is the SWEATADAY challenge with Shauna Harrison. This Instagram challenge began in 2013 and continues to go strong because it is that good.

I hope these challenges inspire you to keep moving (not only in the winter, but all year long) the way they inspire me. If they do, help your friends and share this post ;)

What challenges are you doing (or have done) that you want to share?

I'm linking up with Lacey and Meranda and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0!




19 comments:

  1. I just finished that Strava/Lululemon challenge--it was really tough to get in the 50 miles since it's been so cold! But hey, it's done!

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    1. That's one that I would have jumped on in the past. Great job getting in 50 miles!

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  2. I'm not really much of a challenge girl, but I do do them from time to time. And it's always good to know about more of them. But who has all that time, seriously?

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    1. I guess you just have to find the one that's right for you and your schedule. A lot of challenges are for things you do anyway and will just help keep you on track...plus you could win something ;)

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  3. These sound like great ways to stay motivated throughout this super cold weather! x_x I'm off to check out Saucony's IG challenge! :]

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    1. When it's really winter-ing, we need all the help we can get right? And if you're going to be a winter warrior, why not try for a chance to win something too?!

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  4. I join Adriene for yoga in the pain cave regularly! I'm also doing Rachel's Burpees, Planks and Pushups challenge and it's kicking me in the behind.

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    1. Adriene is the one who got me really into yoga - beyond a pose here or there. Love her videos. That BPP challenge sounds dreadful, haha! Anyone doing it is totally badazz in my eyes!

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  5. I also do challenges - I like the idea of Fab Abs February, I need to work on mine

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    1. I'm actually looking forward to doing it again this year. Maybe we should start a group hashtag ;)

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  6. I did the runners world run streak before but haven't done it for the past few years. I usually do some sort of Fitbit challenge in the winter but I haven't started that yet either. Geeze, i'm really slacking here...haha.

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    1. I look at it as you must not have needed motivation! I lean towards the challenges that help me stay focused on the areas that I'm slacking.

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  7. These all sound like great challenges! It can be so hard to stay motivated this time of year.

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    1. Definitely! Although, I can find my motivation slipping at different times too -> summer, holidays...and if I'm doing a challenge it helps.

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  8. I never think to search for challenges via hashtags (duh!), but I like the short-term thing. I'll have to do some searching...thanks for the tip!

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  9. I love monthly challenges ...that's about as long as my attention span lasts! Lol

    Right now I'm doing Rachel's (Running on Happy) Burpee, Planks & Push up challenge and although it's getting tough ...I'm feeling strong!

    Thanks for the great ideas!

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    1. That challenge sounds intense! I like the challenges that are anywhere in the 21-30 day range the most too.

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  10. I usually suck at challenges. I think it's because I still compare myself too much to others. But I'm trying to fix that! So I think I'll try each month to do a new one. This month is already Rachel's burpees, planks and pushups challenge. I think the Feb abs one might be up my alley!

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    1. That is hard sometimes. I'm a sucker for the, "if she's doing it, I can do it" effect though. That often helps get me moving (and I try not to focus on how I measure up). I'm hoping there's a #FABABSFEB hashtag in use so we can support each other ;)

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