
As winter approaches here are 4 reasons to get or retain a gym membership when the weather turns cold and nasty.
If you resisted the urge to shed your holiday weight this summer, now could be the best time to get a gym membership and get in shape.
That’s according to Zone Fitness group training specialist, Ivana Buchanan.
“As we head into winter and the weather gets cold, many people don’t stay the course – but there are a few good reasons to make sure you’re staying fit as the weather turns,” Buchanan says.
Number one: Gains are felt in winter
According to Buchanan, there’s an old saying in the fitness community: summer bodies are made in winter.
“The effort you invest when the weather turns will stand you in good stead for the months ahead.”
Number two: We eat more when the weather turns cold
The best intentions can be eroded completely when we start to pack on winter fat.
Says Buchanan: “All of us tend to eat more when the weather is colder and that coincides with a slump in the exercise we do.”
The pairing is a bad combination. Buchanan advises “keeping the blood flowing” during autumn and winter.
Number three: It’s habit forming
“If you can train when it’s cold and dark, you can train when the weather is good,” Buchanan says. “Getting into the habit of braving the cold of winter stands you in good stead, and it’s often an excellent idea to find a training partner to aid you.”
Number four: You can take pride knowing you’re dedicated
So many of us try to get fit in summer, but wouldn’t it feel good if you knuckled down in autumn and winter when so many others are skiving off?
A new year brings a renewed drive to get in shape, but when that drive stalls, gym memberships pick up dust.
“Buck the trend and sign up in the colder months,” Buchanan says, “and sleep well knowing you’re putting in the hard yards before people that wait for summer.”



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