Winter is rough on me. I write a lot, which means I’m usually sitting a lot during the day. I usually gain about 10 pounds throughout winter because I’m not as active as I am in summer. Every summer, I spend the first few weeks trying to lose the extra weight that winter has piled onto my hips, in hopes that I will be able to wear my bathing suits again by the end of the season. Usually, I wear my swimsuits for a few weeks and then the weather turns cold and the vicious circle starts all over again. It’s hard to be active during the cold season when you live on the Canadian Prairies.
Jogging in winter is tough because it all depends on if you’re eyelids freeze shut when you’re outside for more than 5 minutes and if the track is in good condition (this year it is not). The sidewalks are usually slippery and not everyone shovels their walk. To someone who has fallen in love with jogging in the past year, this is frustrating and makes me antsy for summer to arrive. I needed an alternative.
I decided to fix my problem by investing in a treadmill. Rain, snow, sleet, hail…bring it on! When I ran the track behind my house, I was able to go only 3 days a week because I didn’t feel comfortable taking my son to a public place and not staying near him – and that was only possible if the weather was good. Now, I’m jogging 3 times each day. I have found that my appetite has change a little as well. I no longer eat 3 big meals a day. Instead, I have small portions throughout the day.
Winter is officially my favorite season!
