When the weather outside is frightful, and bone-chilling, and it looks like a frozen hellscape, it’s easy to slink back in your comfy sweatpants and convince yourself to skip a workout. After all, who wants to bundle up and battle the elements when hot cocoa and Netflix are calling your name?

If you’re a serious athlete, then you do. Staying active during the winter takes some prep and tweaks to your approach. But if you use these practical tips, you can keep your gains moving upward as the temperature drops …

Layer up.

Aside from being a motivation killer, cold air can make it difficult to breathe. So if you’re planning to train outside, pick up some new gear and layer up wisely. Nike’s new  Hyperwarm skin-hugging crew shirt is a good pick-up. It’s lined to keep you warm but ventilated to encourage evaporation. In short, when you sweat, you won’t get drenched.

Energize.

P4’s NSF Certified for Sport line of workout supplements can help provide you with a wave of energy to plow through the winter blues.  Pre Game Formula and Energy Formula are both pre- and intra-workout supplements that aid endurance, strength, and stamina.

Update your playlist.

Adding new tunes to the mix can be a refresher for your ears and energize your body.

Take a class.

Training for a sport year-round can get monotonous. But you still have plenty of options to switch things up — even when the weather prevents you from running on the street or in a park. If your gym offers free classes, give them a trial run. Have you wanted to try pilates? Take a class. What’s the harm? If you’re looking for more options, scour Groupon or LivingSocial for health and fitness deals. There’s no shortage of everything from boot camps to martial arts to one-on-one personal training.

Rethink your diet.

If you’re not as active in winter, adjust your diet to support your fitness goals. If you’re looking to bulk up, you’ll have to carb up too. But it’s the types of carbs that you take in that’ll determine whether you’ll energize or add excess weight. Aim for slow-digesting carbs, such as those from brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and sweet potatoes.

Recruit a workout buddy.

Having someone to brave the cold with and who will keep you honest about showing up to train can also be a source of motivation and friendly competition.

Emphasize recovery.

Getting the proper amount of R&R is essential to staying healthy and having the motivation to train hard again when you wake up. P4’s workout supplement Recovery Push Formula contains a plethora of vitamins and electrolytes to help initiate the body’s recovery process.