Exercising in the Winter
What you can do to get out from under your covers and stay safe in and out
of the gym during the cold months.
 While your friends may be content to sit
inside, bundled up by the fireplace during the winter, you're smarter than
that. Hence why you're on a mission to learn all there is to know about
cold-weather
exercising. Here's what you should know to make your workout as safe
and useful as possible during the winter months:
Warm It Up
Regardless of whether you
exercise indoors or out, you have to get your body warmed up before
getting down to business. As the cold weather can make it more difficult to
get your body ready to move, spend some extra time getting your limbs limber.
To do this, walk for a couple of minutes extra and allow your body to tell
you when it's ready to move faster. This is particularly important if you're
going to be
exercising in the great outdoors.
You'll also want to keep your body as warm as possible at every point in your
workout. By dressing in layers, you can do just this. Of course, you'll want
to shed your layers rather quickly if you're pumping iron or running on a
treadmill indoors, but wearing a few thin layers on as you travel to the
gym allows you to stay as warm as possible, which makes it easier to warm
up before working out.
Choose Wisely
More than any other time during the year, the winter months can be most
difficult to maintain an
exercise regimen. If you're going to be dedicated through the cold,
you'll need to pick your
exercises with care. You should also be sure to stay moving if you choose
to
exercise outdoors. Stand still for long and your body will begin to lose
the looseness you worked so hard to achieve.
Have a hard time forcing yourself to work out in the great outdoors when your
breath is visible? You'll need to take it indoors. The first place you should
turn is your
gym. There, you'll be surrounded by fellow fitness-minded folks who are
doing what it takes to maintain good health in the face of freezing odds.
When the
gym isn't easy to access, you don't have to skip exercising. Simply get
to your local mall for a walk or pop in an
exercise video and get in some
exercise at home.
After You're Done
Following a good workout, your body should be plenty warm. But don't let that
warmth fool you into a false sense of security. Because once you walk
outside, the sudden burst of cold air that greets you could undo all the
warming up process you went through. Instead, protect your body temperature
by bundling up after working out prior to going outside.
If your
exercise took place outside, don't allow your body to cool down outside.
To stay safe, get inside as soon as your routine is over. Following a shower,
dress yourself warmly in order to retain your heat and stay warm throughout
the day. You should also drink some water after your shower for a little
hydration insurance.
Drink It Up
Though you may not be dripping sweat from your head to your feet during a
cold-weather workout, that doesn't mean you don't need to stay well hydrated.
In order to avoid becoming dehydrated before, during, and after your routine,
you'll need to keep a constant flow of liquids going into your system.
To do this, drink a glass of water before your
exercise routine. As you
exercise, keep some water nearby to sip on. And when you're finished
exercising, drink even more. By doing this, you'll protect yourself from
the same risks that are present during warm-weather workouts.
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