Brrr. The cold weather may leave you wanting to hibernate and load up on hearty meals, but we have a good reason to stay tough through the winter months with an outdoor workout.
Burn More Calories in the Cold
Turns, out, cold weather may give you a more solid calorie burning session than temperate climates. For starters, you body will expend more energy to keep warm and regulate your core temperature. Cold weather also simulates a certain type of fat store and both of those factors can lead to burning up to 400-500 more calories per day. Of course, all exercise can boost your metabolism, but adding in some cold weather training could result in a higher metabolic increase.
Improve Your Immune System
Getting out in the cold can also improve your immune system, according the Mayo Foundation. Their study found that regular outdoor, cold-weather exercise reduced susceptibility of colds by 20-30 percent!
Get some winter workouts on your schedule now. Try these:
- Snowshoe racing
- Winter trail running
- Downhill skiing
- XC skiing
- Winter hiking
- Skijoring
End your cold weather workout with an indoor foam roll session after you’ve warmed up. Your muscles will appreciate the extra attention.