Exercising during winter: 5 helpful hints on how to continue moving while braving the cold
We all know how hard it is to get moving when winter hits. The days get shorter, the nights get colder and your body starts craving all this food!
Needless to say, staying motivated to continue your daily walks or workouts becomes that little bit more challenging.
Jack, an Exercise Physiologist at myExercisePhysiologist in Payneham Adelaide, has some great tips for exercising through winter below for you.
The reason your body craves more food in winter is because it is cold, and needs to boost it’s metabolism in order to have blood pump around the body and warm up. Eating food is the simplest way of doing this, but not the most health conscious.
There’s no nice way to say it, when it’s cold, you sometimes just have to suck it up and get on with it.
So let’s give you some tips for exercising!
Here are 5 tips for exercising during winter that can point you in the right direction:
Use these to ensure that you don’t end up losing all the progress you made in those summer months.
Tip 1 Exercise indoors
Now, this seems like a no brainer, but exercising indoors can be challenging if you a) don’t have a gym membership, b) don’t have much equipment at home or c) can’t find a suitable space at home to workout in. Don’t fret! Exercise doesn’t have to be this long, 45 minute workout using lots of equipment or space.
Are you waiting for the kettle to boil? Good! Use this time to complete a small circuit of 10 x squats, 10 x calf raises, 30 seconds of standing marching, 10 x jumping jacks and 10 x kitchen bench push ups. It’ll take you less than 2 minutes to complete, and your blood will be pumping by the end. Still waiting for the kettle? Repeat the circuit after a small break.
Tip 2 Exercise with a friend
Nothing helps your motivation like not letting someone else down. It’s very easy to lie to ourselves, but having someone else there to keep us honest always helps. So set some time aside to go exercise with a friend. It’ll help you forget about the cold, and it’ll help motivate you to push on a little further than you might otherwise by your lonesome.
Tip 3 Break your exercise into smaller workouts throughout the day
Walking for 10 mins 3 x per day is the same equivalent as walking for 30 mins in one walk. Breaking up the exercise means you won’t have to stay out in the cold for too long, and means you can plan it around the rain and weather where necessary.
Tip 4 Dress for the occasion
Sometimes, you just can’t avoid it. The rain is coming down, or the thermometer is reading 2 degrees, but you are determined to get outside and go for a walk. So rug up and mentally prepare! Put on multiple layers of clothing, wear thick socks or even 2 pairs, wear wool gloves or beanies and put on a weather proof jacket.
Wool stays insulated, even if it gets wet, and your weather proof jacket should help to keep most of the rain and cold out of your body.
Walk a brisk pace, and you’ll find by the time you get home, you’ll be stripping off the layers when you get indoors. There’s nothing more invigorating than going for a walk in the rain!
Tip 5 Join a group activity
There are plenty around in the hills and this might be something as simple as a walking group, to a supervised exercise class in a gym. Having the social aspect of a group class keeps you adherent to your program, and there’s nothing better than complaining about the cold with everyone in the group.
The best experiences are created in groups and with other people, so why not join an exercise group with like-minded people, and make your health and well-being journey a memorable one.
Tips for exercising was written by Kyle Craig, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Payneham Adelaide
