If you know me, you know that I am NOT a fan of the cold weather. I question why I STILL live in the northeast every winter. However, the winter inevitably comes and I am forced to deal with it. I find that the cold weather has a huge impact on my mood for the day. I find that I am more negative and unhappy on a day to day basis. Recently, I have started finding one thing everyday I am thankful for. This makes it a lot easier to deal with the negative energy that overcomes me. When you start focusing on the positive and the things that you love it makes it way easier to change your mood and views around.

          Everyone has something to be thankful for, and just like exercise, this is mind over matter. If you are having an awful day, this is when you need to find a reason to be happy more than ever. YES, sometimes it feels good to just complain and be unhappy about things, but when you complain to other people about the same things continuously, that ends up draining them. You are not aware about your complaining and negativity until you see the impact it has on those around you. Your positivity and light can make another persons day. When things are getting you down just look on the bright side, be happy, be thankful. 

        Piggybacking off of my last post, going into the holiday season can be tough. Its a total mind game between "treat yo'self" and "I want to stay on track." With the drinks flowing, desserts flying, and being surrounded by people you love, it can be really hard to say no. The truth is, you shouldn't have to say no! It's just about doing everything in moderation. It can also be hard keeping up on workouts, especially if you are traveling to see family. Truthfully, you don't need a full gym to get a good sweat in! Body weight workouts are totally do-able, or a quick 15 minutes of abs right when you wake up. ANYTHING is better than doing completely nothing. 
        The holidays are the best time of the year, there is no reason for you not to indulge and enjoy yourself. No one should ever feel any sort of guilt about the food they eat, or the workout they miss. DO NOT be too hard on yourself if you do cheat a little, trust yourself and your ability to get back into the swing of things after the holiday season! 

However, if you want to take advantage of that 15 minute ab workout throughout the holidays here is a workout I recommend:

45 seconds on 15 seconds off
1. Crunches with legs at 90 degress
2. Crunches to the Right 
3. Crunches to the left
4. Leg lifts
5. Flutterkicks
6. Rowboats
-1 min. rest-
7. Hundreds (legs straight up in the air, shoulders off ground, arms pulse by your sides)
8. Jack knife (same body position as hundreds but arms reach up into tiny little crunches on each side of the legs)
9. Russian twists
10. Plank 
11. Plank with hip dips (plank on elbows, dipping your hips down to either side each touching the ground)
12. Hollow rock (hold yourself in a V-like position)
-1 minute stretch out your abs in cobra pose-

Other workouts I recommend looking into if you're looking for a gym or studio setting:
-Local boxing classes
-Local spin/indoor cycling classes
-Local gyms (1 day passes)

Feel free to contact me directly if you are looking for body-weight, at home, workouts and I would be more than happy to send a workout over to you!