Let’s face it - it’s tough to find the motivation to exercise outside these days. Before you throw in the towel and restrict yourself to the crowded, stuffy gym for the next few months, it may be worth giving the idea of a winter workout a second thought. Suiting up appropriately, like with our cold weather series - now on sale, with layers keeps the body at a healthy temperature and functioning the same way it would in any other workout environment. Pull yourself away from that cozy seat in front of the fireplace and you’ll gain these seven bonus benefits of sweating it out in the cold weather -- and you might even learn to love it.
Burn more calories. The body works harder to regulate its core temperature when it’s cold. You’ll burn a few more calories during your wintry workout compared to one conducted indoors. Calorie burn varies with each person’s and the extremity of the temperature; it can be a nice morale booster.
Strengthen your heart. Cold weather also makes the heart work harder to distribute blood throughout the body. For an unhealthy heart this process can worsen illness and injury. But a regular exerciser with cardiovascular endurance can make their heart muscle even stronger with these cold-weather sessions.
Drink more water. Staying hydrated is one of the most important factors in minimizing the dangers of cold-weather workouts. The body continues to sweat, but that sweat evaporates more quickly into the chilly, dry air, making it seem as though the body is losing less water. Drinking water before, during, and after cold-weather workouts helps maintain peak performance, protect the body from injury and stay warm from start to finish. Don’t wait to feel thirsty to hydrate!
Build a tolerance for the freezing elements. It can feel painful to force yourself out into the elements for the first workout of the winter season, but over time, it does get easier. According to chief coach of the New York Road Runners organization John Honerkamp, it’s important to adjust your expectations as you adjust rather than push for your typical, temperate-weather performance. Pay particular attention to the amount of effort you’re putting forth rather than hitting certain time, distance or other performance goals, and try to just enjoy the process.
Warm-up and cool-down routines. Proper warm-up and cool-down movements are crucial to keeping the body in top fitness shape, but they become even more important when it’s cold outside. Keeping the body loose, limber and warm for a chilly workout can help prevent painful twists, sprains, tears and other injuries. Winter workouts will encourage you to become a pro when it comes to full warm-up and cool-down routines, the former to keep your internal body temperature elevated, and the latter to reduce unnecessary tightness inspired by the chill in the air.
Get a dose of vitamin D. Sure, it may be cold, but that doesn’t mean the extra sun exposure won’t supply you with the same critical nutrients it does throughout the warmer parts of the year. The relative benefit also feels more substantial in the wintertime since the amount of natural light is already so restricted.
Feel happier and more energized. Cold-weather exercise also has the ability to boost your mood thanks to the lack of humidity and the stimulating aspect of the chill. As the body works harder to stay warm, the amount of endomorphism produced also increases, leaving you with a stronger sense of happiness and lightness following a workout in the cold.
Resources: http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/big-benefits-exercising-outside-this-winter/
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