For many of us lazy bones, we’re always looking for reasons to skip exercising. And now that the winters are here, the dip in temperatures will be used as a big excuse to say no to workouts. Winter can be a tough time to get motivated to exercise. There are umpteen reasons why winter is a good time to work out; as well as the physical benefits of a more energised, stronger, leaner body, it can have some positive mental aspects such as a reduction in stress, increase in happiness and joining a team can boost your social life.
So it’s really important to stay focused on our health and fitness. In winter we tend to be lazy, eat more, sleep more and work less which can build layers of fat around our body. Staying active with workout is essential not only for physical health but also our mental health. There are many scientific reasons why winter is the best time to start a workout routine.
Keeps you healthy
Winter workouts boost your mental health. Studies prove that vitamin D has an anti-depressant effect which elevates your moods, reduces anxiety and depression helps you when you are feeling low, making you feel more serene and stress-free. In addition exercising releases endorphins, which minimize the pain of exercising, reduce inflammation, leaving you to feel good and happy. Moreover, regular workouts strengthen your immune system and guard you against viral infections, cold, and flu.
Vitamin D
Sun is the natural source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is required to build strong bones, overcome inflammation, and to keep your immune system strong. Moreover, it helps to prevent high blood pressure, diabetes, and a number of cancers. During the summer 10 minutes of sun exposure is enough, but in winter, sunshine is in short supply and we spend less time outdoors. So, it can affect the formation of Vitamin D naturally in the body. Also, the winter sunshine is an ideal supplement vitamin D. So it’s very important to get outside for a light jogging or a morning walk to get moving under the sun.
Strengthen your heart
During the winters, the heart works faster to distribute blood to other parts of the body. For an unhealthy heart that struggles to manage the additional stress, this process can exacerbate illness and injury. But a regular exerciser with cardiovascular endurance can make their heart muscle even stronger with these cold-weather sessions, better preparing the body for more strenuous workouts in the future.
Burn more fat
Regular workout routine in cold climate demands more energy for your body to raise its internal heat. That means you will have to provide your body with pre-workout warm ups first, before starting your actual workout routine. You will need to work harder to achieve a stable body temperature which in turn will help you burn more calories.
Great cardiovascular workout
Training in the cold is an excellent way to boost your cardiovascular system. Just like a lot of other bodily systems, your cardiovascular system is forced to work harder in colder conditions. The heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body due to constricted blood vessels in the extremities caused by the cold. Training in these conditions is great for increasing your cardiovascular fitness and promoting good circulation in the body.
Improve your immune system
Regular workout is a powerful immunity booster. Although healthy eating plays a more vital role in immune system development and maintenance, exercise can also help reduce the risk of cold and flu. Even a 10 minute workout can make a huge difference to how you feel. You don’t have to run in the morning, though, a few sit-ups or walking will be enough to improve your immune system.
