It's the start of winter and it's just beginning to get cold outside in much the US. For many of us, there's a good chance it'll be dark by the time we leave work every day for the next few months.
And that's depressing enough that it seems like a reason to put off workouts, curl up with a book or some Netflix, and wait until spring to get back into shape.
Unfortunately, nice as that might sound for a moment, it's kind of a terrible plan.
The benefits of exercise don't fade away with the summer sun. If you let your workout routines lapse, you're going to be stuck with weeks or months of recovery work in spring, increasing your injury risk and slowing any progress towards fitness goals.
If anything, winter is perhaps when we could most use the stress-reducing and mental health-improving benefits of exercise. Plus, a good run or bike ride is an excellent way to work off some of those holiday cookies and a way to counteract some of the brain-dulling effects of a few too many holiday cocktails.
With that in mind, we've collected a few tips from John Honerkamp, a coach with the New York Road Runners and former professional runner, and from experts at the American Council on Exercise.
Here's how to get ready to emerge from winter feeling happier and healthier than you would if you took this time off.
Know that it's worth it. Exercise improves mental health, is perhaps the most effective anti-depressant we have, improves your sex life, makes it easier to focus at work, and more. Not only is it "good for you," but you'll feel better too.
Taking a couple months off is a killer. "You’re not going to lose a ton of fitness in a week or two, but three or four weeks, it gets bad," says Honerkamp. You lose fitness pretty quickly if you aren't getting a workout in — there's no way around that. It can take months to even get back to your baseline fitness after that.
Source: Business Insider
Start as soon as you can, especially since December's weather isn't that bad. "It’s important now, because the bad months are January and February." December is the best time to get accustomed to moving around in the cold, since in most places (sorry, Minnesotans), it's still bearable out. Build a routine ASAP.
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