The 4 Essentials for Cold Weather Workouts | Urban Athletic Running Belt Review

Let's get out there!

As promised here's a little insight into getting outside and being active when it's COLD! I've broken down the four bare essentials you need to go run outside when the world is telling you to snuggle into your covers.

Winding down after Stretching--on chilly days | Influenster #Voxbox Review

These cold days are taking a lot more motivation in the workout department. I've been trying some new tricks to get myself out there (more on that another day) and putting in some effort to make my workout time extra special. If it doesn't feel good, we're not going to do it, right?

Something hot

My favorite post stretch (and during stretch!) indulgence is to get some hot chocolate or soup next to my yoga mat.

I've been doing a lot of lunges in the morning sunshine and right up until it got way, way too cold sipping on something hot did the trick. Now I sit in front of the window--anything to get my morning sun--and sip. I would advise against anything solid if you're still doing a little stretching simply because stretches like cobra make it a bit too easy to choke (I should know, ha!).

Here (above) I'm going with Annie's Organic Tomato Soup--which I highly, highly recommend if you like the idea of tomato soup but hate any trace of that canned taste (these come in cartons). I was lucky enough to receive this and the other items mentioned so I could make this review for you all.

A Little Multi-tasking

You know how I love to strive to get everything done.

So of course it makes it just that much sweeter to wash my go-to yoga mat while I stretch on my extra pretty mat. (This I didn't get to review from Influenster, I got the pretty mat  from Yoga Design Lab, in Blush, and the mat I've washed from a local hardware store--really!). I have done this before and it worked, surprisingly.

I put it in on the cold cycle with a few other items (more multi-tasking) and then air-dryed it. It was really, really filthy from going to the beach, sitting in the summer sun and rain, and being dragged everywhere I caught a whim to stretch. Fall is a perfect time to recover from summer chaos and the ensuing dirt!

As you can see, the Tide took off most of the dirt. You can get a better sense by comparing these starting from the sun-bleached strip next to each number. What I love most is that there was no detergent scent afterward.

For finding time for myself

Lately we've been having bathroom catastrophes with one of the kids. Serendipitously, these Fiber Choice gummies came in my #Voxbox from Influenster and saved me from lots of time waiting around in the bathroom. If there are ever kids in your house, you know what I mean--their extra potty time requires morale support. Luckily these are tasty!

Morale of the story: ENJOY

Cold days make steam rising from hot soup and chocolate delicious. They make clear windows a magical portal for morning sunshine, yet not for blasts of wintery air. 

I hope you take a few of these tips to get yourself back into your stretching routines--or to not fall out of them--when everyone seems to be saying the cold air means it's time to hibernate.

How will you get into stretching on these cold days?

I'd love to know which of these ideas  you are planning to try--OR what ideas pop into your head? Let me know by leaving a comment!

How to Plan for Superman Abs | Review: Live Infinitely Stability Ball

Here I am coming off months of slowly progressing strength training--maybe you can relate. Months of trying to fit in workouts + lack of motivation = blah. So I'm trying something I've been resisting for awhile.

A dream plan for Superman abs!