Thanksgiving is over.  The mornings, even here in Southern California are turning colder, the days are shorter, and two of my consistent habits need my special attention this time of year, or I will easily fall off the wagon.

Since having weight loss surgery, I am always cold.  Yes, my iron and B12 levels are where they need to be so it’s just about being cold because I have shed 250 pounds of fat that insulated me for many years.  As I type this I am sitting at home, in front of my computer dressed in sweat pants, a long sleeve knit top and a sweatshirt.  Oh, And I’m still cold.  This makes two of my consistent habits difficult to keep in place, so I had to get creative and find ways to still make them happen… I’ll share them with you today and if you have any other tips or tricks please feel free to share them with me.

The first habit that is difficult for me in the cold weather is getting in my water.  My ideal hydration level seems to be about 80 oz.  When it’s warm it’s not hard to get that in.  when it’s cold outside it seems to be more difficult for me.  I keep a water bottle beside me or in my hand wherever I am all day long.  When it’s colder out I just don’t sip at it as frequently. 

My solution is twofold:

• First, I limit myself to one cup of coffee and one cup of SF hot chocolate per day.  Yes, these are both hot and yummy, but I would be sipping from them all day long and not having much in the way of just water.
• Second is I use hot water with lemon, fresh mint, orange in lieu of my bottled water so I am pouring warm liquid into my body and helping to keep me warm.  Is it too difficult to carry around lemons, oranges and fresh mint?  The easy solution is to get herbal (not decaf, not regular but HERBAL teas in various flavors… These have no “tea leaves” in them at all and are just dried herbs and fruits.  My favorites are mint (spearmint not peppermint) and lemon ginger.  This also works in the summer since they make great ice teas as well.

That’s how I work on staying hydrated when I am cold.  How do you do it?

The second habit that gets difficult as the days get shorter and colder is fitness.  When it’s dark and cold getting out of bed to get to the gym by 7am can feel like an impossible chore.  I’m still awake at 5 no matter what so I do not allow myself to get back in bed after using the restroom since cold mornings make that a necessity most of the time.  Not ready to go yet?  Grab that water bottle or glass at your bedside, have a sip and I can almost guarantee you’ll be up in a flash.

Now that I’m awake I have a normal routine that I follow.  I may be boring, but it works for me and I keep it even while traveling.  A cup or two of herbal tea wakes up my body and gets things going, if you get my drift.  Then I allow myself 1 cup of coffee.  I’ll scan Facebook or read my latest novel while I’m sipping and then it’s back upstairs to dress and get to the gym.  If I don’t go in the morning, I rarely get it done at any other time.  This is an appointment I set with myself and very little gets to interfere with it. 

I also pull on my mind’s knowledge that if I don’t get my fitness in I will be even colder all day long since it jump starts my metabolism.

What are your trips and tricks for hydration and fitness in cold weather?  Inquiring minds want to know.