Make the Right Adjustments for Training in the Cold
By Tom Herrin
There is certainly nothing automatic when it comes to conditioning. That is, people don't really adapt the same as many other things do. Just because the seasons change, as do the temperatures, there is no built-in mechanism that tells people how to go about making changes in the schedule; being more conscious individuals, people like to make decisions on their own. They also are generally creatures of habit. With all of this said, when the temperatures become colder, people usually have to make adjustments in order to maintain successful workouts. This may involve things such as times, locations, and the activities themselves.
Warming Up Means More in the Cold
Most people do some kind of warm-up activity. It may be a lot of stretching or some other kind of less stressful exercise. Whether or not they realize it, the main purpose of doing such things is to increase the blood flow to all parts of the body. This can reduce the chance of injury as well as actually increase the body temperature, particularly in areas that are more remote. Doing these exercises in the colder temperatures should last longer than many people do them in warmer weather. The point is to protect soft tissue.
Eating May Be More Important
All people eat, but many often diet or restrict what they eat. Others may eat what they consider substantial food for the cold without thinking about exactly how the body needs to be fueled. Consuming good fruits and vegetables is critical. Taking in adequate amounts of vitamins can help overall function. Many of these foods also are high in water content. This may help to prevent the dehydration that many have creep up on them in the cold weather. Taking in good amounts of proteins is always useful for working out.
Find the Prime Time to Workout
Many of us find ourselves working out at odd times. If we do this in early morning or at night, we may find more obstacles once the temperatures become colder. One of the keys to any successful conditioning programs is to do it regularly. Whatever it takes to make that happen is likely worthwhile. We may need to move our workout time to the afternoon, or some other suitable time, so that it is more opportunity to enjoy the better temperatures. That also means a better chance of more motivation, and that is what most of us are always in need of.
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