The last few years have brought us some times with pretty cold temps. I mean, anything below 60F feels cold to Texans. Let's talk about working out in the cold & possibly shorter days of the Winter months.
Working out in the cold weather can be a challenge, but it's not completely out of the question. People go snow skiing for recreation all throughout the winter months. Here are some tips on how to keep you safe while you get outside during the Winter months.
It's COLD...
~ Layers. People who live in the northern states or those who enjoy winter sports know this to be a given. Long underwear top (or maybe a long sleeved, dry fit shirt), long underwear bottom (or maybe your yoga pants), a fleece or light-weight sweater, joggers, an outer jacket/coat/parka, gloves, neck warmer, ear warmer or hat (that covers the ears). And don't forget the socks; a wool fabric or at least socks that are long enough to cover the gap between your pants and your running shoes.
~ ALL of these layers may seem like a bit much but they work! You can peel off what you don't need as you warm up.
~ Limit. Limit your time exposed to the cold. If you are used to going on one long walk or run (say for an hour) you may want to limit that time to 15 or 30 minutes and go more often - allowing yourself to warm up between sessions outside.
~ Self warmers. There are hand and body warmers that are single use and also those that are rechargeable. These are a great option especially if you will be out in the cold for longer periods of time.
It's DARK...
~ The buddy system is GREAT. Not only do you have a friend with you to keep you safe that friend can help motivate and be your accountability partner. Truth; my dog is my buddy. He does NOT like to miss his runs and his walks. He keeps me going and challenges my speed. He really likes me, he won't be keen on strangers approaching me.
~ Be visible. It gets dark earlier and stays dark later in the Winter months. It used to be that we were told to wear light clothes when working out after dark. These days there are clothes with great reflective properties - even better than light or white clothing. Make sure there is ample reflective pieces visible; most shoes also have reflective marks on them as well. LIGHTS! My dogs wear collars that light up when we walk or run early in the morning or in the evenings. Their collars have settings for a solid or flashing light. They also make wristbands, vests and ankle straps to wear that will light up to make you more visible while you are working out.
All of this being said; if the temperatures fall below 0F or the wind chill drops to -17F it's best to stay indoors. We likely won't see that ever here in Texas, but you never know who might be checking out this blog.
So it's cold this week - it's Winter. Take a moment & get outside to get some fresh air if you can! It's worth it & you can do this!
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