Working out has many benefits, but sometimes we find it hard to go to the gym or do any other workouts. Besides lack of motivation and inadequate time, people also cite bad weather as a reason for not working out. But do you know that exercising in cold weather is a great idea and has some incredible benefits?
Here are some of the surprising benefits of working out in cold weather:
You become healthier
Doesn’t it seem that spending hours on end in the cold will just expose you and make you more susceptible to illnesses like cold and flu? Well, the surprising thing is that being out there in the cold doing physical activities will strengthen your immune system. According to a study done in 2015, it was observed that workouts improve your immune system by stressing it repeatedly. Despite the fact that the study was focused on the impact of exercise on animals, the researchers now think that it has the same impact on human beings as well.
You torch more calories
While doing physical activities in the cold, you have to work harder to or use more energy to increase your body temperature. According to some experts in fitness, people who engage in any athletic activity, be it cycling or running, are likely to burn between 10% and 40% extra calories in the cold than would be the case when working out in normal temperatures. Speaking of burning additional calories, you could also increase the rate of burning calories by incorporating steroids from Musclesfax.
It boosts your mood
It is well-known that workouts are magical in raising spirits and elevating moods. The reason for this is that exercise triggers the release of happy hormones. For the dull moods that are brought about by winter, you do not need any remedy other than exercise. Working out for five minutes is good enough to begin to make your mood better. Additionally, according to the American Psychological Association, continuous exercise routines can play a great role in dealing and doing away with long-term depression.
Strengthening the heart
As earlier stated, working out in cold forces you to work harder to raise the body temperature. With the extra work, the body cells will need more energy and the heart is tasked to work harder to pump blood to all of the body parts, thus supplying nutrients and oxygen. The heart working harder helps to make it stronger.
You get stronger bones
Remaining indoors during the winter leads to cabin fever, but even worse, it denies you the opportunity to get sunlight, thus affecting the production of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D is essential for strong and healthy bones. Getting outdoors for workouts in the winter will help you to absorb small doses of sunlight that is crucial in vitamin D synthesis and boosting your moods.
Bottom line
Exercising in cold weather has some great benefits. It helps to burn more calories, strengthen bones, boost moods, improve your immunity, and make your heart stronger. It is important to take all necessary precautions when working out in the cold to prevent any related problems as you get the benefits.