It’s easy to start a workout routine in summer: the weather is pleasant; you can swim, jog, cycle, kayak, and perform dozens of other activities outside. However, as daylight wanes with the approach of winter, people become discouraged and stop working out entirely. In reality, all of the reasons you come up with to cease exercising in winter are nothing but poor excuses. There are countless ways you can work out in the cold weather and stay in shape even when the air temperature plummets below zero.
Staying outdoors
If you’re an ardent bodybuilder who simply adores working out outside, wintertime merely means that you have to alter the exercise routine, as opposed to bringing it indoors. For instance, the warm-up has to change to incorporate aerobics and cardio activates that will get the blood going, thus keeping you warm. No matter how cold it is outside, jog, walk fast or perform jumping jacks for some 10 minutes before you start exercising.
Furthermore, the clothes you wear should change as well. You can leave the shorts and the T-shirt on but add extra layers of clothing. Once you start exercising and feel the heat and sweat taking you over, peel off one layer after the other to stay comfortable. Right after the training session is over, immediately don back on all of the clothes you have taken off, such as a sweater or a jacket.
Do I need to go to the gym?
For those people who cannot imagine working out outside the gym, the winter period doesn’t pose much of a problem. On the other side, people who prefer the outdoors feel coerced to enter the gym during winter. This is simply not true, as there are several alternatives to the gym.
Firstly, you can repurpose the basement and turn it into a home gym. The equipment you would require is quite basic, as a few weights and a yoga mat. Secondly, you have the option to buddy up with someone who already has a similar home gym. Whatever solution you choose, know that paying a gym membership is not mandatory during the winter period.
Timing is not of the essence
A typical exercise routine involves at least three days of the week that you exercise. However, you have to take into account the chilly air outside and consider decreasing the number of days you are physically active. If you worked out two out of seven days, that’s wouldn’t disrupt your routine too much, as you would still stay in shape. Essentially, everything is better thanceasing to exercise altogether.
Speed things up
In addition to exercising fewer times a week, you should limit the duration of individual training sessions. Instead of staying out in the cold air for a full hour or 45 minutes, try to work out a new schedule that would take a mere 30 minutes to complete. You can merge several exercises into one, thus saving precious time. For example, typical front squats active both quadriceps and glutes so they can account for two separate exercises.
The cold is actually good for exercising
Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that exercising in cold weather actually has more upsides than downsides. First, there is the advantage of your body’s ability to regulate internaltemperature better, as the cold air outside acts as a cooler of sorts.
As a result, you are able to exercise longer or run farther as there is no danger of the muscles overheating or straining. As we have stated earlier, in order to reap all the benefits of low temperatures, you have to warm up well. Finally, there is the issue of weight loss which will be sped up since the body will constrict blood vessels with more vigor as it shivers in the cold.
Having listed all of the ways of working out in the winter period, you are really left without an excuse to start exercising this December. Furthermore, there is no reason to hit the gym as the outdoors is as good an exercise area as a warm room. Just remember to warm up for at least 10 minutes before you start putting your muscles to strain.