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Keep warm when training in winter
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By Dimi Deliyiannis
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Winter is upon us, and believe it or not, now's the perfect timeto get back into the swing of things at the gym. Waking up at4am in the blistering cold, to train before work, may not beeveryone's idea of the perfect workout. But it's the coldweather that makes going to gym in winter so much more appealingto some.
Who in their right mind would give up an extra hour's sleep,covered with warm, fluffy duvets in return for blood, sweat andtears at the gym? The answer is simple, serious fitnessfanatics.
Winter gymming can be so much better, especially at this time,when preparing for upcoming competitions. There's hardly anywaiting around for machines to become available and you canworkout with complete freedom, using any piece of equipment foras long as you want, without getting the eye from inpatientmembers. Not to mention having the complete set of dumbbellsready for you when you need them.
Winter training is also the time when the risk of hypothermia isat its greatest. Because of the amount of body heat that will belost during exercise, you must always ensure that you maintain acomfortable temperature during your workouts. Keeping yourselfwarm during workouts is absolutely imperative; therefore yourchoice of clothing should go beyond designer labels and focusmore on the amount of insulation it can provide.
When choosing clothing for winter workouts, avoid closely wovenfabrics and heavy tracksuits, as they cannot provide a layer ofair near the skin. This layer is needed to help maintain asuitable temperature. When your clothing traps air, it cannotconduct heat away from the body; therefore your clothes can helpmaintain a suitable temperature. Wearing your clothes in layersis also a good option, which will allow you to change the amountof insulation needed as you workout.
Tips for winter workouts
- Dress warm enough before stepping out into the cold
- Don't assume because you have muscles of steel that you canstep out into the cold with nothing but a training vest and pairof shorts. Bring out those warm tops and longs, and if need be,change when you get to gym, not before.
- Use your head: Always make sure you keep your head, hands andfeet warm at all times. Wear gloves, warm socks and beaniesbefore leaving the house.
- Peel it off: Remember to dress in layers for ease oftemperature adjustments. When choosing layers opt for clothingthat can provide a trapped layer of air near the skin.
- Stay tuned: always check the weather report the night beforeto ensure you are 100% prepared before you go out
- Wrapping it up: Heavy workouts can result in excessivesweating. Make sure that you are 100% dry before walking outinto the cold after you're done. If necessary, wrap a dry towelaround your head (and ears) to keep your head warm.
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