Exercising In Winter

As an outdoor trainer, I often have clients say that it’s too cold to exercise outside and they will wait until the weather improves to take up exercise.  There is a saying “summer bodies are made in winter” and this is true. In winter it can be easy to hibernate and therefore eat more comfort foods.  Training all year round maintains your fitness levels, and helps keep your immunity high, which can prevent colds and flu.

Winter is a great time to exercise, in fact it’s one of the best times of the year to exercise.  In summer, heat plays a big role in increasing heart rate and exercise routines need to be managed carefully to avoid our bodies overheating. In winter, the outside heat isn’t a factor, so once you are warmed up, you don’t notice the cold air and you can push yourself without worrying about overheating from the sun.

In Adelaide our winters are very mild compared to other parts of the world and its possible to exercise outdoors.

It’s a matter of just putting on your gear, going outside and starting your warmup – remember its just those first few minutes.

Here’s what I recommend to get the most out of exercising in winter:

• Dress properly for the cold, make sure you start with a jacket on, and have layers you can remove
• Always warm up before any exercise, in winter the warmup can be longer to ensure your body and muscles are warm
• Train with a friend, go for a brisk walk
• If its raining, find a shelter, or train inside (there are lots of exercises you can do in your own home)
• Have a personal trainer keep you accountable and achieving your goals
• Always stretch after exercise and remember to still drink plenty of water
• Enjoy the season, the parks and gardens are beautiful with winter sun.

Have a go, get out there and enjoy the winter season!