There's No Business Like Snow Business
By Tom Herrin
There is an old saying that good things happen to those who wait. It is very true in reference to many things. Waiting to save enough money for something is usually a good idea. Having patience when it comes to cooking, building friendships, or lots of other things can mean greater success when people wait. For those who are trying to improve, or maintain their health with a good exercise program, waiting until a warmer time of the year after it has begun to get cold can be counterproductive. The cold is not really a very good excuse even though some seem to like to hang onto it. The best approach is to find a way to make things work.
Get a Partner
Many times, it is too easy for people to talk themselves out of following through with an exercise program when it is cold. Finding someone who can sort of share the load can help. When people have someone they can gain support from, they are far more likely to get going. When each partner has some kind of need they feel to prevent letting the other down, they can gain strength from it. Getting out because the partner is counting on them is a little gentle peer pressure.
Stretching Is More Important
Dong some kind of warm-up is pretty important to protecting the muscles and other soft tissue. It becomes even more critical when temperatures are colder. Stretching is a big part of a warm-up routine because it helps to be certain that blood flow is increased to all parts of the body. As this happens, blood is supplied to the tissues while warming the body at the same time. The colder the temps, the longer the warm-up time should be.
Enjoy the Cold
For me, one of the keys to being active in the cold is to find a way to like it. Of course, no one likes to be cold, but embracing activities in the cold can be fun. Knowing that when you need to get warm, you can get warm, is a help. This has been a lesson learned by many. In a classic NFL game, the Dallas Cowboys thought they needed to tough it out by staying in the cold while the Packers had ways to get warm when they had a break; managing the cold seemed to have made a great difference in motivation and success. The same can be said about our workouts. We have to know the difference between being prepared for the cold and simply freezing. Let the challenge of the cold drive you.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cedar Park, Tex.