Skinny-Teatox / Gym Pics

When we think of losing weight and the benefits it entails, we mostly associate it with physical changes and what we see when we look in the mirror. But for many people, the motivation and even the best reward is the other benefits that come from losing those extra pounds.

It’s that time of year, where despite having set out with the best of intentions with your new year’s resolutions and weight loss goals, sometimes the cold and dark and the dreary winter days make working out in the great outdoors just plain unexciting.

Instead of letting yourself fall into a slump, use these five ways to embrace outdoor workouts in the winter and make the most of the cold and snowy days!

I get it... when you’re sitting lounging on the couch with your family, the smell of turkey and Christmas cookies wafting through the house and a bottle of wine nearby, the last thing that may be on your mind is how you should do a workout. It's hard to stay fit during the holidays!

There is much buzz surrounding the waist trainers and corsets. It’s a new, and well received, way of reducing the waistline and helping tone your midsection. The main idea is to wear the corset/waist trainer during your workouts, and it’ll begin to help target those core muscles between your hips and ribcage.

So you’re ready to take the plunge and start running. Maybe even sign up for a race and reach your goal of running a half marathon. Before you can start your race training plan, you need to lay a solid foundation and reach a base level of fitness so you will be successful in your training and not get sick or injured. This is called base training.

By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Chronicles of Passion & Facebook)  

If you’re having time getting into a workout routine and finding something you can stick with consistently, maybe it’s time to look at not what you are doing for your workout, but when you are doing it.

Studies show pros and cons to working out in both the evening and the morning, but really, leading to no conclusive recommended time to get the heart rate up. Really, the best time is the time that is best for you, that you will stick with and that you enjoy the most.

Not sure what that is? Let’s compare workout times:

By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Chronicles of Passion & Facebook) 

It’s true: the cold weather is right around the corner. And some days, it feels like it has arrived already. If you’re in a cold climate, you know it means it’s time to dig out the boots, the cozy knits and big wool scarves. For many people though, it’s also the time to put away the runners and hibernate from outdoor exercise. I am totally not one of those people! I love running outside in the winter, and after last winter’s lessons in running, I’m starting this year with everything in place. And if you add these items to your wardrobe, you can too!

One of the biggest things I hear people talk about when it comes to getting healthy, working out and eating better is finding the motivation.

Finding the internal drive to get up, get into gear and make it happen. Here’s the truth: whether you’re a newbie, or have been working out for years, there will always be days where motivation is a struggle.

The difference is that at some point, you figure out how to get over the hump of letting the lack of motivation win every single time.

Here’s 5 things I wish I knew about motivation before I started working out: 

By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Chronicles of Passion & Facebook) 

You’ve been working out for a while now, and are well on your way to reaching your bikini body goals. Well done! If you’ve noticed though that you seem to have hit a bit of a slump and aren’t making as much progress as you used to be, it may be time to re-evaluate your fitness habits. Here’s five things you may be doing that are stalling your progress: