Beat the Winter Workout Blues

Question: "Ugh...I've got the winter blues and just can't get my butt to the gym. Any suggestions?"

Answer: You're not alone; the colder temps make us want to crawl under the covers, too. Our style director, Julia Hecker, swears by taking an annual trip somewhere tropical at the end of January: "The idea of getting into a bikini keeps me on my best behavior throughout the holidays," she says. Another trick is to consider committing to running or walking a race in the spring, says Mike Bracko, an exercise physiologist in Calgary, Alberta.

Pay your entrance fee now; this will give you reason to train during the winter months. Whenever you need an extra push, try buying new exercise shoes or clothes -- which are often on sale during the post-holiday season. "Feeling good about the way you look at the gym gives you an incentive to go," says Bracko.

Originally published in Fitness magazine January 2006.