Exercise in Winter: Why You Should Put Forth the Effort
It’s easy to lose motivation to work out in the winter. When the weather is nasty, and it’s dark
most of the day, all you want to do is stay in bed. Plus, the layers you bundle up in to protect
yourself from the cold, sleet, and snow help you forget about any excess fat or loss of muscle
tone that’s going on under it all. That being said, winter is actually the best time for you to be
working on your fitness goals. Once the holidays are out of the way, there are less social
engagements to attend to, so you have the free time to hit the gym instead of meeting up for
happy hour. And if you sweat it out now, you are more likely to see results once the sun comes
back and the layers come off.
Those are not the only benefits to working out in the winter. An estimated 10 million Americans
suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is more prevalent in the winter. Working
out can help fight the symptoms of SAD which include depression, fatigue, irritability, increased
appetite (especially for comfort-inducing carbohydrates), loss of libido, and difficulties
concentrating. Exercise can help people beat seasonal depression by boosting their brain’s
levels of serotonin. The levels of this feel-good neurotransmitter stay elevated even hours after
your workout is over.
Winter Workout Motivation
If you find it difficult to motivate yourself to work out in the winter, try Bergeron Personal
Training's helpful tips.
Dress for Success
If you wear the right gear, exercising outside in the winter can actually be more pleasurable than
toiling away in the summer sun. Invest in long-sleeve tops made of technical fabrics that wick
sweat away from your body so you stay dry and warm. Or a lightweight fleece pullover is a great
addition to help you stay warm simply by pairing it over your normal workout T-shirts. Cover
your legs without losing flexibility with running tights, tracksuit pants, or leggings. Keep your
ears warm with an athletic beanie, headband, or earmuffs. Waterproof socks are necessary for
when there is snow on the ground, and running gloves can keep your fingers warm. Finally, a
water- and snow-proof jacket is a great touch for your winter athletic wardrobe.
Play With Your Pup
Your dog needs exercise in the winter, too. Taking him with you while jogging around the
neighborhood or hiking in a local park can kill two birds with one stone. Or, if the weather is too
treacherous, get in a little exercise indoors with the help of man’s best friend. Spending an hour
or so playing indoors can help burn off his excess energy while keeping your body active as
well. It’s not going to burn as many calories as a dance class or build muscle like lifting weights,
but when it comes to exercise, doing anything is better than nothing.
Home Gym Necessities
While jogging or walking the dog count as your aerobic exercise, you should do some sort of
strength training as well. Stocking up on home equipment means you can build muscle without
joining (or making the cold winter trek to) a gym. A kettlebell can give you a full-body workout
that engages the core while sculpting arms and legs. Other items like balance balls, resistance
bands, pull-up bars, and an abdominal roller can transform your home into a fitness haven.
Once you've assembled your gym equipment, you can then add other important workout tools to
the mix, such as a fitness app and music. An app is a great motivational tool because it will
keep you accountable by offering daily workout plans, advice about nutrition, and instructions for
performing workout moves properly. To keep you going with your workouts, you can also put
together playlists and assign them to different types of workouts, like running and strength
training.
***
While it may be cold outside, winter is no excuse to ignore your fitness goals. It is important to
work out even in bad weather if you want to beat the winter blues and firm up by the time warm
weather rolls around. Stocking up on the right workout gear makes outdoor exercise easy.
Double up on duties by using your pup as a workout buddy. Finally, use some home gym
equipment to incorporate strength training into your winter workout routine.
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