Cold weather can dampen the spirits of even the most motivated of exercisers. With the following tips for cold weather exercising, you can still become motivated and stay fit.
Exercising is important for a number of reasons. It supports health by maintaining a healthy weight, it maintains bone health, keeps your heart health as well as supports a happy mood. Kevin Plancher, M.D., head of Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New York City suggests that "all exercise can increase your levels of those feel-good hormones, endorphins, but because your body has to work harder in the cold, your endorphin production is boosted even more, leading to a happier state of mind."
You'll Burn More Calories
In the cold, your body will work harder to regulate its core temperature, your body will burn more calories in the cold. This can be a nice morale booster for you to get out there and get more out of your sweat session.
You'll strengthen Your Heart
Cold weather makes your heart work harder to distribute blood throughout your body.
You'll Drink More Water
Staying hydrated is one of the most central factors in order to minimize the dangers of cold weather workouts. It will seem to you, as you exercise in the cold, that your body is losing less water. However, your body will continue to sweat, but that sweat will evaporate more quickly into the chilly and dry air. It is important not to wait until you feel thirsty to hydrate – keep sipping that water!
Build a Tolerance to the Cold
It can feel like torture to force yourself out into the cold elements for that very first workout of the winter season, but rest assured, it does get easier over time as you build a resistance.
You'll Get That Dose of Vitamin D
Yes, it's cold, but that doesn't mean that you won't get your dose of vitamin D. As long as the sun is shining, so vitamin D will be supplied. It is easy to forget this, so it is important you remember your sunscreen.
Originally published on Jun 01, 2016
