How to stay fit in the winter

For some, the arrival of thick sweater and puffy jacket season perfectly coincides with our fondness of eating every carb in sight. The cold winter air makes it hard to leave your house, while homemade Nutella Hot Chocolate can guarantee that you won't.

Fact: You barely want to get out from underneath that warm, cozy blanket to use the washroom, let alone to go to the gym.

"There's something you can always do," said Kat Hartmann, fitness specialist and personal trainer of Galter Life Center in Lincoln Square. "Your body weight is a tool you can always use. Do some sit-ups or some push-ups while watching television."

Don't get frustrated and lose hope within a week either. Results take time.

"Try and set small goals for yourself because they're more achievable," said Maria Galiotos, fitness member services leader of Galter Life Center and medical school student.

Working out for at least 20 minutes a day will at least get you the minimum cardiovascular benefits said Hartmann.

Do whatever you can and work it into your schedule. Even busy schedules have some room for exercise.

"Even walking short distances will help because at least you're getting some exercise," said Galiotos.

"Anything is better than nothing," said Hartmann.

Working out, whether in a gym or at home, is not the only way to stay fit this winter; healthy eating habits are also the key to success.

"Get smart about what you're eating," said Hartmann. "Do you know that a bagel from Dunkin Donuts is 500 calories, without the cream cheese? The proper serving size for a bagel is only half, but most people don't know this. It's important to know your portion sizes."

She suggests signing up at sparkpeople.com. It's a website with free diet plans that counts your calories, offers personalized fitness programs, and it's where world master chef, healthy cooking expert and author of "The SparkPeople Cookbook" posts healthy recipes.

Kate Kinne, a registered dietician from Galter Life Center, provides some tips on what to eat and how to stay healthy during the winter.

"It may be a little harder to get fresh produce in the winter because many fruits and veggies are not ‘in season' during winter months," said Kinne "However, citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit and clementines are in season, as well as pears. Good veggies during the winter months include sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, squash and kale."

There are also specific foods that you can eat to get you full faster, so that you don't over eat.

"There are certain foods that are more nutrient dense," said Morales. "They make you feel fuller by eating less, like raw fruits and vegetables."

Hartmann says that it's important to give yourself some wiggle room. Set realistic goals and stick to them.

"Don't vow off chocolate for the rest of your life because then you tend to just binge," she said. "Stop for a second and just reassess."

Staying motivated gets tough during the winter, but many students continue to push through the cold in order to stay fit and healthy.

"We do classes together so that we can motivate one another," said a junior psychology student Marina Giovannini about working out with her friends.

"Once you get into a fitness routine it's easy to stick with it no matter the season," said sophomore Spanish student Martin Diaz. "In the winter it's easy to get depressed and working out is a great way to get energy."