It’s almost a month post-marathon season now. Training for and running a marathon will change your body; however, there’s a very good chance the weight lost will return. This can be incredibly frustrating because approximately 4 solid months were spent conditioning the body for a marathon (that’s almost HALF of a year) so it seems preposterous that the body wouldn’t stay fit and trim on its own.

The reason why a marathoners body is very fit during and immediately after the marathon is because the body adapted to the consistent exercise. Consistency is the key. However, the last thing most people (even runners) want to do during the winter is to go outside for a run. It’s much easier (and warmer) to stay indoors and wait out the winter. Just because temperatures have reached the freezing point does not mean that it’s time for workout hibernation, though. In order to combat the holiday eating and drinking, it may be advantageous to workout now more than any other season.

Despite the fact that the legs are no longer covering 13+ mile runs on a weekly basis, doesn’t mean the metabolism can go on hiatus. Send the body a very clear message by hitting the gym (for warmth and a workout) or doing a low mileage outdoor run (after a few minutes, the cold will subside). Be consistent. The body will follow the workout routine’s lead and by springtime, it will look and feel like the marathoner it is.