Fight the Winter Blues Part I: Invigorate & Energize Naturally

Are you feeling the winter blues? You know, that sleepy, low movement, low energy, hibernation mode with excessive cravings for comfort foods? As a healthy lifestyle educator that promotes regular physical activity, I am feeling it myself and chance are, you are as well. If you are, don't be discouraged. Luckily, spring is just around the corner. Weather - good or bad - can set the tone of our moods if we let it. It's great when it's a positive effect such as the feeling a nice, sunny day has on us. But it can be quite challenging if you are living in area of the country that provides several dreary, cold and/or cloudy days back to back. The majority of the states throughout the country are experiencing this for short or long spurts. My favorite workouts have always been outdoors, although I do not prefer to workout in cold and wet weather. If you are like me, this can be a recipe for missing regular workouts.

On top of the weather challenge, most Americans have sedentary jobs. Even my job of improving the health of others requires many hours in front of a computer. This "screen time" - whether you work professionally from home or at the office - must be counteracted by purposeful physical activity in order to keep us fit and healthy.

For me, mornings and late afternoons are great opportunities for workouts at home. What time of day is best for you? Whether you have 5 minutes or an hour, there are many opportunities to get your heart rate up and energize. Push away that temptation to reach for caffeine and instead break the day up with a workout! If the weather is poor, consider doing your workouts indoors. I love doing Exercise TV workouts through my AT&T Uverse Free On Demand, but you can also download the workouts straight off their website. My favorite trainers are Jillian Michaels and Steve Maresca - check them out! Both of them use such great words of motivation throughout their workouts which helps in maximizing your time. Exercise TV have everything from yoga to pilates to target zone training. What is also great is that many of them do not require any equipment. And if you only have 5 or 10 minutes, no problem. They have a quick, pick-me-up workouts that will get your heart rate up and help in finishing the day off strong. Regular exercise and proper nutrition together are the keys to beating the winter time blues. Set the timers on your phones or computers to remind yourself to get UP and get moving every so often. You may have something else in place like a treadmill or a mini trampoline or even the Wii Fitness. If you are at a workplace, take a 10 minute break and walk the staircase or walk the corporate floor. Whatever it is, take time to move. Endorphins will be released and you will have a renewed outlook on the responsbilities that lie before you. Let's do life together, and stay strong in body, mind and spirit. In Part 2, we will discuss ways to balance our comfort food cravings. Stay tuned!