So the time has come again to start thinking of bikinis and cook outs! Some of you may be thinking.. are you serious Mackenzie? Its still the winter time. The answer is YES! I am serious. I always like to give myself plenty of time to reach my goals for the summer and because of this I have started to think about the pool side months a little bit in advance. Most people like to think about quickly getting in shape and crash dieting a week before you have that vacation to go on. The problem is that usually those types of plans dont give you the results that you want. I wanted to give my readers a few tips on how to set themselves up for success in their plans for the perfect summer body!

Winter makes the thought of going outside to hit the gym unbearable. I know especially in Pittsburgh that it is freezing outside, the roads are bad, and the traffic is worse! Isnt it just easier to sit inside and watch tv? Of course it is! but that doesnt mean its the right choice! It is common knowledge that people gain weight during the winter because they dont have the opportunity to be as active as you would be in the warm summer months. Also, the winter brings the holidays which are full of delicious but not so good for you food.

1. Make a plan!

It is so important for people who want to get rid of the sedentary lifestyle to set a long term plan for yourself. First of all you have to make a conscious decision to put in the effort. This means even though it may be cold and snowy outside and all you want it a nice cup of hot chocolate...you have to take the time for your health. The good news is that you dont necessarily have to brave the cold in order to get your exercise in the winter. Try buying an exercise video that you can do in the comfort of your own living room! Perhaps you could buy some hand weights and do a little strength training. After all for health reasons it isnt necessary to spend hours in the gym..the average adult should get about 40 minutes of activity a day. Knock that out and you are good to go!

2. Try to focus more on vegetables and protein

Trying to have a leaner diet during the winter months can help keep off the extra weight and sustain your muscle when you may not be able to be as active. It is very easy to lose muscle in the winter months because you arent naturally as active so you want to make sure you do everything you can to keep the muscle you gained during the summers activities strong.

3.  Be realistic

Give yourself more time to reach your goals.. because activity is less adundant in the winter months it may be harder to burn the calories you need to lose weight quickly. Give yourself a little extra time .. do not get down on yourself if you arent reaching your goals as quickly as you would like to. Also, set realistic goals! If you start exercising in March it isnt very feasible that you will be able to run a half marathon by May.

Having a plan and staying healthy during the winter months can help you in many ways. Many people feel depressed in the winter because of the cold temperatures and lack of sunlight. Exercise and good health can help to keep your spirits up and remain content during the cold weather! Just a few thoughts!