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Exercising in the winter months can be tough for even the most dedicated gym-bunny. Icy, dark mornings and cool, dark evenings lend themselves more to huddling under a duvet with a cup of hot chocolate rather than heading out to work up a sweat.
But if the thought of what all those hot chocolates, creamy soups and hearty stews will do to your waistline if you don’t work them off isn’t enough to tempt you to do a workout, check out this article on how exercise can actually help beat those winter blues.
Not only that, but regular exercise can also help keep those nasty winter bugs at bay. This study shows how regular exercise may be “among the best ways to reduce acute respiratory infections”. And research also shows that exercising in winter months can really lift your spirits.
However, should you get struck down with something a little more than a cold, it’s wise to take some precautions when exercising and if you get the flu rather get better first before you get back into your exercise programme. Read this article on exercising during flu season.
If you’re new to exercise and looking for a little advice on how to keep going throughout the colder months, take a look at these tips to inspire you:
- Be realistic with your goals, if you can’t exercise on most days – commit to at least three days a week.
- If you enjoy exercising outdoors, try to warm up indoors as it might be easier to face the cold when your body is warm.
- If you find the transition from your bed to your workout difficult, try easy warm up exercises like yoga to get you started.
- Exercise with a friend – accountability to someone other than yourself can help keep you on track.
- Set yourself a goal for winter and reward yourself with something worth working towards e.g. a weekend away, a spa treatment or a new pair of shoes.
Whatever you choose to do the goal is to keep moving. Not only will it keep you warm, but when summer rolls around you will be ever-so happy you stuck with it.
What are your tips for exercising when it’s cold outside? Send us your tips.
