5 ways to crush your cold-weather workout

Once winter hits, plans change. You know what I mean. You’d love to keep working out every morning- but when you wake up, it’s cold, it’s dark outside, and you just want to go back to sleep.

We’ve prepared 5 clever tips to help you triumph over the cold and effectively stay in shape until the summer.

Ready? Let’s go.

Pick the right clothes

Sport clothing isn’t about looks. It’s designed to keep you warm and comfortable during your workout. Layers can help with the cold, but if it’s windy, thinner layers won’t help you- you need to wear wind-resistant clothing. Likewise, if it’s snowing on raining, your top layer needs to be water-repellant.

Stretch and prepare your muscles

Imagine a rubber band. It’s flexible- it’ll return to its original shape no matter what you do to it. Now imagine that same rubber band, but frozen. Try using it, and it’ll break.

Your muscles are the same way. If you suddenly put a lot of pressure on cold, unsuspecting muscles, you could injure yourself. Make sure to warm up well before getting to the actual workout.

Protect your face and hands

When it’s cold, you want to save your body heat. You can protect your head and ears by wearing a hat. In addition, a good pair of gloves will keep your hands warm and comfortable. You can buy gloves with touchscreen fabric to let you use your phone(for example, change the song between sets) during your workout.

Drink enough water

Everyone knows hydration is important, but many athletes neglect it in the winter. It’s colder, you don’t sweat as much, and you don’t feel as thirsty- but that doesn’t mean you should forget to take a sip every now and then. Hydration reduces risk of injuries, and keeps you going. You might want to take your water at room temperature instead of cold from the freezer.

Make yourself seen

In winter, the sun rises late, and sets early. Shorter days mean you probably often find yourself out during dark- including when working out. Be smart and make yourself visible- choose clothes with light-reflective elements, or buy a running lamp. You can put it around your torso, and it will also help you see where you’re going.

Are you interested in more great workout tips? Do you want to find out other effective ways to improve sports performance? Become a Sports Coach, uncover the secret to top athletic performance, and start spreading the knowledge!