Let’s be honest for a second. The first things you think of when the temperature drops all revolve around your ideal picture of fall – sweater weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and infinity scarfs. While the colder seasons do present some new, fun options (snowball fight with your crush, yes please), it also leads to difficulties for those of use who love to exercise outside.
Exercising outside is the obvious choice for many for a number of reasons. A major benefit of taking your workout outside is that no one is staring at you! No one sees you struggle to lift five-pound dumbbells. No one watches the sweat marks form in all those embarrassing places on your once cute workout ensemble. No one can watch you adjust your pace of the treadmill up and down fifty times as you fight to find that perfect pace.
Clearly exercising outside saves all kind of embarrassment, let alone provides you with fresh air and time with nature. Some tips for exercising outside include:
- Wear waterproof material (don’t get soaked by the snow!)
- Wear a thick hat, gloves, and socks – this is wear heat escapes
- Stay hydrated
- Invest in heat warmers for hands + feet
- Take time to stretch
- Immediately change out of your clothes or take a shower
Although I advocate for exercising outdoors, there are some safety things to consider. Know the symptoms of frostbite and hyperthermia, such as intense shivering, slurred speech, and loss coordination. Also, make sure to tell someone where you plan on going in case there is an emergency. There is such a thing of it being too cold to exercise outside – be careful.
Now that you have some tips on exercising in the cold, break free of the gym and have fun!
Photo Sources:
http://lyssabeths.com/blog/romantic-colorado-winter-wedding/
http://caitchock.com/its-a-treadmill-war-there-will-be-losers-and-potentially-collateral-damage/