Trouble exercising this time of year?

[LauraMax]

You know, summer I'm at it like gangbusters b/c of the long days. The sun is up when I get up at 6 to do cardio, & it's still up when I leave for the gym at 5 to lift.

But I really struggle when it's dark when I wake up & dark when I leave work. My body tells me I should be going home b/c bedtime is just an hour or two away, even though my brain knows I still have plenty of time. It's not SAD, I don't feel depressed, but sticking to the routine is definitely harder for me in the winter than in the summer.

Is it just me?

 

[Stephanie0523]

I agree. I also have a problem with craving comfort foods in the fall and if I fall into a rut of eating more, I feel sluggish and don't want to work out. My clothes are bigger and baggier (sweaters, etc.) in the fall and winter, so I don't feel the urgency to workout like I do in the spring and summer too. That's where the forums come in. I'm hoping they will inspire me to not fall back into old ruts!

 

[AEHaight]

Not just you. I get up @ 5:30am to exercise and I HATE HATE HATE it when it's pitch black outside. I just keep trying...

 

[eaglobo]

I find it easier in the summer as well, something about fall makes me want to hibernate. Sometimes I'll actaully lay my workout clothes and any weights I need in front of the TV the night before as a reminder, something I don't need to do in the nicer weather months.

Without getting too scientific, I'd bet real money there is something to do with the effect of sunlight and nicer weather on our moods as well.

Jerry

 

[LauraMax]

You'd win Jerry. SAD = Seasonal Affective Disorder (I think affective, or affected, or whatever). Evidently there are some folks who fall into a serious depression when they're exposed to less sunlight. Some docs even prescribe tanning salons for it.

I don't have SAD, I'm just freakin lazy when it's dark outside. :+

 

[Fitness-Mom]

I have been SOOOO lazy. I'm lucky I get in 2-3 work-outs in a week. I have been really bad about working out, all I want to do is sleep, it's horrible. My eating has went down the drain also!!

I will have to look up SAD = Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Its good to know, I'm not the only one going through this right now
"Today is a Gift, Have Fun"

~Jennifer~

www.picturetrail.com/fitness-momx2

 

[lainiefig]

I have the opposite experience. I think I work out better in the cold weather. I think it's partially because our old house is so badly insulated. It's way too hot in the summer which makes it hard for me to put my all into cardio workouts. In the winter it's so cold that i get up and work out to warm up. I even do better with outdoor workouts in the cold because I'd rather run in the cold than in the heat. I guess it's a good thing I live in NY now and not TX.

I should note, though, that I do my workouts during the afternoons (I exercise while my 2-year old is napping) so I don't have to worry about getting up early to work out.

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=teal]***Lainie***

My fitness blog: http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/iWeb/Site/Exercise/Exercise.html

 

[Miss Lee]

I'm with Lanie on this one. I can't tolerate the heat and humidity of summer and find it nearly impossible to work out, even in air conditioning.

 

[crazystepr]

Laura,
I'm the same way. I can barely get out of bed in the mornings when it's dark like this. My body says I need to snuggle back under the covers! And when I get out of work at 5 and it's dark out, all I want to do is get in my jammies and watch tv!

The diminishing light is NOT very motivating for me! I really have to push through it.

Allison

 

[pippa]

I'm with Lainie and Michele. I do much better this time of year. Once summer comes I around working out is the last thing I feel like doing. I work out in the late morning so no getting up early here!:7

 

[Clarissa]

I don't think exercise-wise I am affected either way throughout the seasons...I just tend to eat more cookies and pumpkin rolls this time of year! So THAT will pack on the pounds!
Clarissa

 

[tneah]

Yep, I just get geared up in the fall and winter, I love being cold rather than too hot, hate the heat! Which is why I live in Las Vegas right? x(
But its cool here now, in the 60's which I adore, I am a fiery type I guess so any extra heat makes me feel sluggish and irritable.

 

[CollinsMom]

I don't mind working out in the cold, I probably prefer it.

However, this time of year my eating goes to hell -- the only thing worse than being cold is being cold AND hungry!

 

[LauraMax]

It's not the temp that bothers me, it's the dark. It makes me sleepy & unmotivated. x(

 

[Jennifit]

Yes, you are not alone. I instantly get so tired and unmotivated. Like right now, I should be doing exercises, but I just don't want to...it is like I want to hibernate.

 

[dorothyrd]

Usually by mid October I switch to afternoon exercise because of the dark in the morning. Then once the time changes, I switch back. This year, nope, because I don't have time after work most days, and because the time is not changing until November. So I deal with it, use my patio doors as a mirror now because it is so dark, they reflect good. I bought a white sweatshirt to wear on my run mornings, so I am more visible.

 

[keli400]

I am with you on this. I teach two fitness classes during the week at 6 freakin' AM, and on those mornings I wonder why...why am I up when no one else is up just to do a workout, it helps that I am getting paid. In fact, I think everyone should be paid to workout early in the morning. Yes, I hereby declare that every time anyone on this forum works out in the darkness of the wee hours in the morning they should get a check!

Unfortunately, I have no power to make this happen so I guess the reward of finishing is what you have to consider (that great sweaty feeling!) and perhaps you get to see a pretty pink sky when you finish, too. Did that do it? Are you pumped to go workout now?

yeah, me neither....}(