Oat Love and Winter Motivation
Where has my motivation gone?!? As soon as the cold weather arrives, I just want to hibernate until spring! Miraculously, I worked out this morning… but just barely! I’m planning to take off tomorrow, so I forced myself to fit in a workout this morning. After checking my email, eating a snack, sitting on my couch staring off into space, watching the news, and filing my nails, I finally got dressed and hit the gym. Just do it, right!?
Workout
I started my workout with 20 minutes of back strengthening exercises. I did the usual Lat Pull-Downs, Single-Arm Rows, etc., but I also tried a new exercise that I saw in Shape magazine this morning: Prone Reverse Fly on the bench (or ball). It really works your upper back muscles. I did 3 sets of 12 reps with 5 lbs. dumbbells. It’s a good one!
After warming up my body with some lifting, I finally had some energy to run! I did a quick 3.5 miles on the treadmill while watching Date My Mom on MTV, followed by 10 minutes of walking as a cool down.
Run stats:
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Time: 30:01
- Pace: 8:34 min/mile
- Calories: 343
Breakfast
Don’t ya just love a warm bowl of oats in the morning?!! I could honestly eat them everyday for breakfast! How many days a week (on average) do you eat oatmeal for breakfast? I’d say that I am a 5-day a week gal with the occasional oatmeal snack thrown in the mix.
This morning’s oats were a lovely mix of banana, raisins and flaxseed meal with 2 scoops of Barney Butter on top. I also had a cup of coffee in the office (not pictured) and an Adora disk with breakfast. The little glass container on my kitchen counter has been an excellent reminder to get my daily calcium and vitamin D!
Winter Motivation
I’ve been struggling with motivation to exercise this winter. I’m not totally slacking-off, but it has taken some real effort to get my butt moving. What is really bugging me is that I am usually motivated by the pure enjoyment of exercise. I like to be active. I enjoy running. Yoga relaxes me. I could walk for hours on a sunny day. But lately, working out seems like a chore to me! Not all of the time– basically, only when it is cold and dark outside. Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of working out during the “warmer” and sunnier hours of the day, so I brainstormed some ideas to keep me motivated through the long, frigid Boston winter. Hopefully, these ideas will be helpful to you, too! Feel free to throw in your own as well– I need all of the help I can get!
Ideas for Sticking to a Fitness Routine in the Winter
- It may sound kind of weird, but buy some new workout clothing. It’s so much easier to get motivated when you have a nice outfit and/or the proper gear to brave the cold.
- Team up with a workout buddy so you can be accountable. (My sister and I recently committed to running a half marathon this spring. We’re already working on creating our training schedules!) In addition, working out with others reinforces your commitment to exercise.
- Set a training goal, such as completing a 5k or triathlon. Create a training schedule to keep you on track.
- Record your workouts and progress.
- Rather than obsessing over losing the last 5 pounds, focus on being healthy and/or achieving a goal.
- Exercise first thing in the morning. You have fewer “excuses” to skip a workout then! Tips for exercising in the morning.
- Avoid setting a broad goal of just exercising more. Create a more specific one, like “I will exercise for 45 minutes at least 4 times a week.”
- Switch it up. Change-up your surroundings, the type of exercise you are doing, and even the people you are doing it with every few weeks. Check out group exercises classes at your gym or take your workout outside. Similarly, avoid equipment burnout by using different machines each visit to the gym. At home, try Comcast On-Demand Sports & Fitness programs, www.yogadownload.com or Netflix new exercise DVDs.
- Try some unconventional “workouts” to stay active: Cleaning for Exercise and TV Commercial Workout
- Just do it! Exercise for at least 10-15 minutes. If you’re feeling it, keep going!
- Remind yourself how great it feels once you have completed your workout!
- Take a day off (if you need it). No use in making yourself crazy with unrealistic expectations. It’s okay to skip a workout or two… just don’t skip too many!
Posted by: Tina 35 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized, motivation
Tags: oatmeal
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Great tips! They come at such an appropriate time of year. I can’t speak for anyone else, but it has been a struggle for me to get moving. The dark and cold just… depresses me. I really enjoyed looking through this list – thank you for the inspiration today!
Oh, and I think I’m a 6-days-a-week oatmeal girl
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I’d be surprised to hear if there was a single person out there who didn’t have problems getting motivated to workout when the days are short and cold! Last winter I joined Team in Training and trained for a marathon with them from December to May. I still had days where I didn’t want to go running, but with two TnT workouts a week, feeling accountable to a group of people, and also knowing that I would enjoy the workout, kept me on track.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
think about it… only like 6 or 8 more weeks and it will start to warm up a little. so if you can suck it up for 6 weeks you’ll be golden!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the tips, I’m having the same problems too. Winter is no fun!
I love my oats and used to eat them 7 days a week, but now it depends on how much time I have in the morning!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Great tips! I had all of my clothes ready for the gym this morning but when my alarm went off at 6 am, I was too cold to get up! It is so hard!
Oatmeal=5 days! Every day when I get to work a make a bowl. On weekends I cook omelets. Yum!
http://www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I am so not on the oat train! I think the last time I had them was almost a month ago before my finals
Thanks for the tips!!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I eat oatmeal every single morning! I am an oatmeal lover. I wonder if it is in the genes. My maiden name is McCann (McCann’s oatmeal)!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Oatmeal is my favorite and I eat it maybe 4-5 times per week.
It is so hard to get motivated in the winter. One of the new activities I tried last year was snowshoeing. I normally hate the cold and snow, but with snowshoes on a weekend day it was fun!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Love the workout tips! Usually I just get up and immediately start getting ready to head out for my run or to the gym and I don’t even think about it anymore. However, those days where I wait until later in the day tend to take a little more motivation!
I eat oats 6-7 days per week. So basically every day
Love ‘em!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I’m going shopping at city sports this weekend to keep myself motivated. I officially hate my gym clothes – they consist of faded sweatpants and old t-shirts = boring! I’m excited for new clothes, and perhaps some at-home weights so that I can try out some of those Shape/Women’s Fitness lifting exercises.
Question for you Tina – how do you cook your oats? I’ve tried using water, soy milk, etc. but I usually heat it up too much or too little, put in too much liquid, and while I like the mix-ins my oats never look as appetizing as yours. Can you give me an “idiots guide” to how you cook your oatmeal (lol)?
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
@Leah: Haha! Here’s how I make them: I use Old Fashioned Quaker Oats from the canister. To make: I measure 1/2 cup of dry oats and 1/2 cup of water (or milk), then combine them in a large, microwavable bowl. At this point, I also add my goodies–- fruit, nuts, spices, etc. Then pop the bowl with all of the fixings in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and enjoy!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I EAT OATMEAL EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t go one day without it
Great workout tips!!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
@Tina: P.S. Sometimes 1/2 cup of liquid is not enough if there are a lot of toppings– sometimes I use 3/4 cup.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I was on an everyday oatmeal kick,but now I’m loving cottage cheese with cereal – not was warm, but the protein tends to tide me over until lunch. I was always hungry an hour or so after eating oats/banana combo, even when I added protein powder. Thanks for the workout motivational tips. It is more difficult to workout in the winter months, but if I make it to the gym or run outside first thing in the morning, my day is so much better!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I have oats everyday. Either in the form of a bowl of oats or granola+yogurt. Love it! I love a big bowl of oats after working out. Right now I’m eating it before running and it’s just not the same.
Love the tips for winter workouts and it’s totally true. Today was an example of me just telling myself to get out and do it already instead of wasting time debating about it!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I am a 5 day oatmeal eater too, I mix it up with dry cereal. Thanks for the great tips! i too need some extra motivation adn I live in LA where it’s only 47 degrees!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Hey Tina –
I just wanted to let you know I love your blog! I recently started checking out some food blogs (mostly to live vicariously – as a grad student I pretty much microwave soup every night for dinner…sad…) and I LOVE yours! I also grew up in the suburbs of Boston, and now live in Cambridge and go to Harvard (so great that you will start up here soon – I wonder if I’ll run into you in the square – it would be like seeing a celebrity
)
Anyways – I am an avid morning runner (on the Charles!) and that’s kind of the way I motivate myself…I don’t give myself time to think about it! I just roll out of bed, throw on my winter running gear (VERY important to have good winter running clothes – one of the only things I really splurge on) and before I know it I’m out on the river. About 10 minutes into the run, I feel great! And it’s kind of a thrill knowing that while most people are in bed, you’re out in the freaking cold being a rockstar
Have a great day!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:21 am
@mere: Thanks for such a nice comment!
Definitely say ‘hello’ if you randomly see me in Harvard Square! 
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I would guess that I have oats at least 6 days a week. I had to go oat-free while breastfeeding (Livy always had a nasty vomiting reaction), and it about killed me.
My biggest winter workout motivators: my treadmill and my gym membership. And of course a hot cup of coffee, before AND after. I’ve even considered during, but that’s taking it a little too far!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I’m a 5 day a week girl too. Weekdays oatmeal, weekends usually out with friends of the bf for brunch!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Awesome post!
I totally agree that setting a training goal (running a half marathon in May) and working out first thing in the morning has kept me going this winter. With a training goal I know I have to stick to my schedule!
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I’m a 6 day a week oatmeal eater. On the one day I don’t have it I usually make a bagel w/ cram cheese and jelly. Not as filling (even though the bagel has 10g of protein) but very delicious and quick!
I stay motivated by just feelin it! My workouts make me feel amazing and make me love my body and proud of what it can accoplish, and I love that feeling so it keeps me going! Also on days when I work out in the am, I start my car 10 minutes before I leave so it will be a l little warm when I get in
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I am so a 5 day a week girl too:) Love the tips!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I love the buy new clothes one. It is so true, and really gets you excited to try them!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
SUCH good tips! it’s SO hard to get motivated in the winter on the east coast (this is my first NY winter, and i’m still in shock)…i have done a lot of the same tricks to get myself to the gym. even if it’s just buying myself socks, any new running gear seems to get me excited. i def set mini rewards for myself, and so far im not broke and im still pumped to go to the gym. switching up routines has been key, too – like taking spinning or other group classes. love your ideas!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I finally started to enjoy getting outside for my runs in the winter, but am currently sidelined with my silly knee. So I’ve decided it’s time to try the workouts on FitTv, should be a good variety!
Do you have any healthy chili or stew recipes that you like to make?
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Amanda: Actually, yes! Check back later tonight!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Just a suggestion with the personal trainer/work situation. A couple of years ago I was questioning if my career was right for my, just like you. I love fitness and nutrition, so I was considering trying to become an RD or trainer. I decided that I didn’t want anything that drastic, so I went the group exercise route.
I now teach spin, kickboxing, and group ex classes and love it. You can work around your job schedule, plus you get a little extra money for doing something that you would be doing any ways. I would suggest starting with an AFAA group ex cert because you can teach a variety of classes with that. Then for spinning you have to get certified through Madd Dog Athletics because they have a patent on the word Spinning and thats the cert most gyms require. Also, while pricey upfront, you earn your money back FAST as instructors can make anywhere from 15-30+ dollars per class!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Yep, I agree wholeheartedly, that winter just wants me to wrap myself up in a snuggly and watch tv!
Your key sentence is remembering how good it feels AFTER you work out! Getting there is 90% of the problem.
Thanks for the tips!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I am a Work Week oatmeal girl. I like having other things on the weekends, and by Monday morning, I’m looking forward to my oats again!
As for workout motivation…I’m not usually affected by the weather. My main motivator is my dog. I ALWAYS walk him in the morning, rain, sun or snow. (This morning was rough). Even if I am slacking on other parts of my workout routine, he gets his 1.5 mile walk, cause if not….he is super hyper at night, which is all the motivation I need.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I used to eat oatmeal almost every day when I first discovered Kath’s blog, but then many months later I realized my yogurt love, and now it’s an occasional oatmeal breakfast here and there
Thanks for the getting motivated tips. I go through phases. Today I actually allowed myself a rest day, which was a first in a while (usually I just end up not going for some reason and feel guilty about it the whole day). I went to the library and read a book during my lunch break instead – it was so nice to just relax!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I eat oats almost every single day – but typically for lunch! Weird, I know – but when I was teaching (elementary school) I found that they kept me full longer in the afternoon and prevented the major munchies at the 3:15 bell. I’m out of the classroom now, but I’ve kept the habit!
As for winter workouts…I just ignore the unmotivated feeling and go anyway. I exercise after work – and for me, the stress relief is too great a payoff to ignore!
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I looove oats. I probably have them about 5 mornings per week. On Monday I usually have cereal and fruit because I’m running short on time. And when I have the extra time on Saturday or Sunday morning, I love to make pancakes =] But oats really are the best.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Just do it. Agreed. When my alarm goes off in the morning, I immediately put work out gear and shoes on, which are right at the end of my bed and walk out the door. If I even give myself 5 minutes to “wake up,” chance I actually work out are significantly decreased. I just have to automate it, can’t think about it.
Oh, and I’m kind of a freak, because my preferred oatmeal meal is in cookie form. I’m not an oatmeal kind of girl, which is unfortunate because its seems so versatile and inexpensive.
on Jan 7th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Great tips. I love oatmeal and peanut butter and I eat it everyday and never get tired of it. My favorite tip was the first one. I definitely love to buy new workout clothes (lululemon) and I can’t wait to workout in them.