Cold weather, snow and ice outside are not exactly considered motivators for us to get out of the house and exercise unless we live on or near a ski resort. Even then, cold winter weather is certainly not the ideal scene to warm up and have an effective workout.
This is why it probably isn’t surprising to you to learn that over 30% of people don’t do ANY exercise in the winter. For those who do exercise, most would admit that they don’t exercise as much as in spring, summer and fall months.
What often makes the inactive winter life style even worse is the fact that many don’t keep up with the salad mentality when choosing food. We have been trained to go for the heavy-cream and heavy starch- laden soups and other such comfort food.
These two culprits, inactivity and poor diet end up having disastrous effects on one’s health. When one’s health is already compromised, it is much easier to pick up a cold or flu virus, including the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
Winter weather again exacerbates the illness factor because many of us don’t want to get out side. Instead we gather inside, generally not getting enough fresh air and in turn transmitting illnesses back and forth.
So, how to get healthy and generally stay healthy in winter? For starters, don’t consider that outside is the ONLY place you can get an effective workout. Many find joining a gym both a warm, convenient way to get into shape, but also a way to meet others and build a support network in achieving and maintaining fitness.
One can also easily purchase anything from an elliptical machine or treadmill, to more inexpensive yoga, Pilates and/or aerobics videos. In fact, depending on what cable services you have for your television, there are many free exercise channels with fun and diverse workout routines.
I have several friends, however, who insist on the great outdoors for their workout – year round. If you are going to be exercising outside in the winter, you should take extra care in planning your wardrobe. Layers are key. One should be warm enough that fingers and toes are not numb, indicating the first stages of frostbite, but not so warm that one is perspiring.
Unlike during summer months, when we sweat in cold or freezing weather, it can quickly cool down our bodies and cause an unhealthy shock to our system. The extremely cold weather can cause blood vessels to constrict, resulting in less blood flow, resulting in less oxygen getting to the vital organs – especially the heart.
Did you know that one is twice as likely to have a heart attack in the winter? This is due to the aforementioned lack of exercise, poor dietary habits and the fact that many don’t realize how much strain it is to perform a seemingly innocuous task such as shoveling the driveway.
If you are looking to improve your heart health and/or lose weight during those winter months, I highly encourage you to try my all natural High Blood Pressure program and Weight Loss Breeze programs. These are easy to perform breathing and relaxation exercises, which you can do at home. The results are amazing!
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