Yahoo Lifestyle 
Kayla Itsines says winter is 'no excuse' to stop moving your body
It might be cold and dark outside now but fitness guru Kayla Itsines says winter is 'no excuse' to let your workout routine slip and stop moving your body.
Though there are a few scientific reasons why exercising and staying motivated to move might feel harder during the winter months, as part of Yahoo Lifestyle's exclusive Workout Challenge with the Sweat trainer, we wanted to find out how we could combat that.
Here the global fitness icon answers some questions from Yahoo Lifestyle readers:
Q: Do you find it harder to be motivated to work out in winter?
I know many women feel less motivated to workout in winter due to dark, wet and cold days but winter isn’t an excuse to miss your workout.
Motivation is what gets you started and discipline is what keeps you going, so there may be days where you might need to push yourself that little bit harder to get out of bed or to the gym for your workout.
Making time to exercise is going to support your mental and physical health which is so important all year round, no matter what season you’re in.
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The reason exercising and staying motivated is harder in winter
Q: But why is it so hard when it's dark outside?
With less hours of sunlight in winter, for many it can feel like we are heading to work when it’s dark and returning home when it’s dark. This might make you feel unmotivated to workout.
At times like these, try swapping out your regular gym workout for an at-home session so you don't have to worry about getting ready and leaving the house for the gym.
There are so many convenient home-based workout options available these days that can help mix up your sessions and keep it interesting.
Q: Are morning or afternoon workouts better in winter?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to the time of your workout, it all comes down to your personal preference and what works best for you and your routine.
The most important thing to focus on is that you are exercising and moving your body in some way every day to benefit your health, whether it be first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, or at night.
Q: What is your favourite kind of workout in winter?
When it’s really cold, I want to get as warm as I can as quickly as possible and High Intensity workouts are the best way to get my heart rate up and get my blood pumping.
I’m currently doing my High Intensity program in the Sweat app which requires minimal equipment giving me the flexibility to train at home or in the gym in under 30-minutes.
Q: What is your go-to healthy winter meal?
One of my favourite meals to eat in winter is soup. When it’s cold, I want to eat warm meals and soup is so easy to make and a great way to pack in heaps of vegetables and protein into one meal.
Kayla's top tips for staying motivated to workout when it is cold
Routine - getting into a consistent routine and scheduling in your workouts is going to help you show up for yourself and stay consistent, even when motivation is low.
Be prepared - if your gym bag is packed, ready to go with your activewear, earphones, water bottle and sweat towel, you will be less likely to find an excuse to skip your workout.
Home workouts - working out in the comfort of your own home is great when you are struggling to find motivation in winter. You can jump out of bed, put on the heater, play your favourite music and get it done, while avoiding the cold and rain.
Check out Kayla's latest workouts for Yahoo Lifestyle's winter challenge here:
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