Stay Warm! Make Winter Exercises Easy
This article was published on: 04/6/17 7:15 AM
The prime reason most people avoid outdoor workout during the winter is because they get cold hands and feet. The key to staying motivated during the winter is to make it as easy as possible to do your workouts and to recognize when you are starting to get bored with your workouts and make a change before you really lose interest. There are ways to make winter exercise more comfortable. These simple tips may help you learn to love winter exercise.
- 1. Layer Your Clothes – Start with a base layer made from a material that wicks perspiration away from your skin. This will help keep you dry and warm. Polypropylene, capilene, silk, polyester, thermax, thinsulate and merino wool are all good choices. Avoid cotton because it traps moisture, so it stays wet and draws heat away from you.
- 2. Warm Up Your Feet and Hands Before Going Outside – Never start your winter workout with cold feet, they never really warm up. Soak your hands and feet in hot water before heading out on your winter runs.
- 3. Choose Your Socks Wisely – Stay away from cotton. Once cotton socks are wet (either from sweat or slush) they will stay wet and quickly pull heat away from your feet. Choose socks like you choose your base layer, made from material that wicks moisture from your skin.
- 4. Choose Your Shoes Wisely – Depending on what sport you’re playing, you can often find shoes just for winter exercise. Trail running shoes made with waterproof liners, such as Gore-Tex, will help keep rain, slush and snow from soaking your feet, but let the moisture from sweat escape. Cyclists will want try have a pair of shoe covers to insulate and block both wind and rain.
- 5. Get Some Traction – Walking or running on slick snow-covered trails or pavement doesn’t have to be treacherous if you add a bit of traction to your shoes. Yaktrax and stabilizers offers a variety of styles of traction cleats you easily attach to your shoes for added stability in winter weather.
- 6. Cover Your Head and Hands – Wear a hat and gloves (or mittens) when you are exercising outside. You can always take them off and tuck them in a pocket if you overheat, but going without and you risk frostbite.
- 7. Protect from Wind Chill – Keep in mind that the stronger the winds, the colder the temperature will feel. So, cover yourself properly.
