When the cold weather of winter descends, it’s easy to stay indoors and remain relatively inactive. The cold conditions get the blame for most people putting on a few pounds over the festive season. However, do we really need to make this conscious effort not to exercise or continue training during the winter season?
We’ve all been guilty of not being as active as we could be when the nights draw in and the weather turns. Regular exercise is a hard habit to get into, so why do we drop it so quickly in winter, only making it harder for us to re-establish in spring?
Studies have shown that when we take a break from our regular fitness regime, we can suffer the following negative effects:
Within just 3-8 weeks of not training or exercising, a 20% reduction in cardiopulmonary fitness.
Any advantage gained over time is lost.
Within 3-6 months of not exercising, we return to the level of couch potato fitness.
It is harder to lose any weight put on during winter, even when starting regular exercise again.
These alone should be enough to convince you to continue training through the winter. With most sporting facilities using all year-round structures, there is no blaming it on the weather. For more information on Tensile Fabric Structures, visit https://www.spatialstructures.com/
There are multiple benefits to exercising and training all year-round and these include:
Improved mood
Better weight control
Reduced stress
Improved sleep
Lesser chance of depression
Even if do decide to brace the great outdoors, don’t be afraid of exercising in the cold as if you prepare correctly with proper attire. As soon as you begin, your body starts to warm up. Therefore, there is no excuse for not exercising in the winter and in fact, we burn more calories when our bodies are working hard to keep warm as well.
Here are some helpful tips for exercising in the cold:
Wear layers with the first layer being a sweat-absorbent material.
Wear sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB rays.
Wearing a scarf will protect your lungs from extremely cold air.
Fluid is still being lost in winter, even if you’re not sweating as much so be sure to keep hydrated.
Keep on the go as your body will warm naturally by constant movement. Stopping can prove dangerous as your body will cool much quicker, leaving you susceptible to frostbite or hypothermia.
If it’s already starting to get dark, remember to wear light reflective clothing.
Beware of icy spots.
