Winter Workout Tips
Written by Chelle | In: Exercise
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When exercising outside in the winter, its important to be safe since cold temperatures and ice can make it difficult. Here are some winter workout tips to help you stay safe – and in shape – this winter.
Winter Workout Tips
Dress in Layers: Dressing in layers can help your body stay at the right temperature – and its easy to take a layer off if you become too warm. Investing in water and wind resistant clothing can help – your local sporting goods store most likely offers a wide variety of different clothes that are meant to be insulating without trapping moisture that are ideal for winter workouts. Remember to also wear a hat, scarf, gloves, and thermal socks to keep your head, neck, and feet warm.
Warm Up: Doing stretches and a short warm up indoors can help you avoid injuries. Cold weather tends to make your body more prone to being injured from impact (such as jogging for example) so a good warm up will help minimize that risk.
Exercise in the Daylight: Going outside at night to jog, even if you wear reflective gear, can be dangerous. Cars may not be able to see you since it is very dark, especially if there is snow and ice. Exercise only in the daytime and when you have total visibility (ie no snow storm) or in a designated area such as a park where cars will not be driving by.
Cool Down: Make sure when returning indoors you slowly get undressed – peeling off all of those layers right away or immediately jumping into a shower could be bad for you. Wait about 5 minutes before taking off another layer.
Exercise With Someone: Being with someone else in the cold while exercising can make it much more fun, as well as keep you both safer. If one of you suddenly begins showing early signs of frostbite or hypothermia or slips on a patch of black ice, you’ll be able to get home safely and if necessary get emergency care.
If all of this seems way too much to go outside and do your regular walking or jogging routine, you may also want to consider trying a different indoors activity to help you stay motivated. Find an indoor swimming pool, consider a gym membership, or try different indoor workout videos and routines to help you keep interested.
Do you have any other winter workout tips you’d like to share? Leave your ideas and what you do in the comments below.