Help I'm sick/Help its too cold/Seasonal Winter Weight Gain

Its true, research shows that people tend to gain weight, or find it hard to lose weight over winter.
Why?  It might be about the influx of colds and flu. It might be about the cold putting people off exercise. Or it might just be about winter comfort foods.   What ever the reason, don't let the season (out of your control) control your achievement of your goals.  Winter, is not an excuse, its just a rationalisation.

When you are sick:

Its time to assess how sick you really are. If your symptoms are all above the neck - you are fine to exercise if you can manage it.   ie - got the sniffles, no reason why you can't run. Can't lift your head of the pillow - then realistically you aren't going anywhere regardless.
If your symptoms are below the neck - congestion, breathing difficulties etc, you can still exercise but you need to reduce the intensity.  So avoid the cardio that makes breathing more difficult, and focus on low intensity weight training, or yoga, pilates etc.  Now's a great time to concentrate on your flexibility.  And if you are home from work - its gives you plenty of time to stretch 2 or 3 times a day, something you would normally not be able to fit in.  Gentle exercise will increase blood flow and help with your recovery
However if you have a fever, you must rest.

But remember - weight loss is 80% about your diet.  So here's a great opportunity to review what you are eating and make some great choices.  Don't forget that if you are sick, your body is probably burning some extra calories to fight the bugs, so its an extra opportunity to lose some weight.  Fight the urge for comfort eating , or at least limit it.

When its too cold:
Really?  People go running in the snow - what's your excuse?  Would you rather run in 40 degree heat?  Or in the rain?  Or are you just coming up with excuses.  At least exercise will warm you up!
Here are my tips:

• The night before set out your clothes, including some nice warm layers.
• Have your mental messages ready about how good you will feel to have done it, disappointed if you don't.
• Have a heater ready to switch on to make the whole getting out of bed thing easier.
• Remember that it feels the same what ever time you get up - might as well be now and start the day off on a good note.
• Choose an alternative exercise if you don't want to go outside.  Eg. - plan to run on the treadmill or do something else inside - have a heater set up and on for when you start, and see how long it takes you to be desperate to switch the thing off.
• Come to the gym and do a class with me at night - you got your warm sleep in, in the morning, and the trade off is to come from work to the gym, get nice and hot and sweaty, and then go home to the comfort of fire/heater, as a reward for doing a great job.  it will also help reduce your hunger in the evenings.
• And if you are competitive...... think about how good you will look after winter, compared to everyone else who has been  lazin around eating bucket loads of calories!

So who's in control - you?  or the weather?