Has winter sent your outdoors fitness habit into hibernation? Don’t wait until spring to get back outside.
Outdoors exercise is good for your body and mind, no matter the time of year.
“Getting outside, even in the cold, allows us to reconnect with nature, break away from the digital and concrete world as well as boost focus and creativity,” says Eric Ridings, a personal trainer, and exercise massage therapist in private practice in Chicago.
Exercise can help ward off the winter blues, boost energy, and prevent weight gain during the time of year most people add some extra insulation.
1. Dress ‘Dry,’ Not Just ‘Warm’
The quickest way to lose body heat is to get wet. Because water is an efficient heat conductor — moving heat away from the area of highest concentration (your body) to the lowest (cold air outside) — getting wet will quickly leave you chilled and miserable.
If you’re cold and wet you may be more inclined to cut your workout short, and you also increase your risk for hypothermia (when your core body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit) or, in freezing conditions, for getting frostbite, Ridings says.
“Wet fabric next to your skin will zap your body heat and give you an unwanted chill,” says Jeff Galloway, a former Olympic runner and the author of Running: Getting Started (and other running training books and programs).
That means, skip activewear made from cotton, which soaks up sweat and rain and holds in moisture.
He recommends opting for synthetic fibers instead, such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene designed to dry quickly.
“They wick away moisture about 50 percent faster than cotton,” Galloway says.
2. Layer Up
Don’t stop at sweat-wicking clothes. You also need layers to trap warm air next to your body and keep out the elements (like rain, snow, and wind), says Brian Calkins, an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer and the president of HealthStyle Fitness in Cincinnati.
Read the complete article at Everydayhealth.com
Also Read: 20 Awesome Indoor Workouts to Try Before Winter’s Over
