We all know that being active is something we should all make a priority and one of the best habits we can adhere to is being active throughout the year, including winter time.
It seems more and more of us tend to get lethargic during winters. We decide to spend more time indoors and indulge in less physical activities.
As the temperature drops and we get to endure the cold, dark mornings, a lot of us are more likely to hit the snooze button and snuggle back under the doona, skipping any idea of exercise.
However, as the saying goes “summer bodies are made in winter” and because of the tendency for us to want to hibernate in winter, it is more important for us to find an exercise we enjoy.
Along with that desire to hibernate, is a desire to eat high calorie, comfort foods. As a result, you not only gain weight and lose your fitness, but also lose the will to be physically active. This can and will hamper your whole fitness regimen in the long run.
So, you won’t be surprised that here at Health Glow PT Studio in Woodvale, we believe it is imperative that you stay active on a daily basis to stay fit and lead a healthy life.
You may like to stay warm during winters, however sitting wrapped up in the blanket should not be your solution!
Instead, start exercising and working out to stay warm and in turn stay fit.
Regular physical activity is something that everyone should indulge in, irrespective of age and gender.
It can help you live longer and in a healthier manner. Of course, having some time on the sofa binge watching shows on Netflix or Stan during the winter is completely fine as long as you do not completely ditch physical activities and exercises.
In this article, we have compiled 10 reasons why you should exercise daily during winter:
1. You Can Burn More Calories
One of the biggest advantages of exercising in the winter is that you burn a lot more calories than you do in the summer.
Your body tends to burn calories in winter to keep the core temperature regulated. You can prevent the winter weight gain that everyone else experiences as you can burn more calories in a shorter period of time.
Moreover, wearing multiple layers of clothes makes you sweat more and you can burn the excess fat present in your body.
Going for a run around Chichester Park, walking along Mullaloo Beach, cycling along the bike path from Hilary’s to Burns Beach or even going for a round of golf are great calorie-busters.
2. You Can Get in Shape for Summer
As mentioned previously, “summer bodies are made in winter” and because of the tendency for us to want to hibernate in winter, it is more important for us to find an exercise we enjoy.
Gaining weight during the winter is partially a psychological thing, as you do not realise you are putting on weight because of the multiple layers of clothes you wear.
Daily exercise during the winter will help you stay in shape and continue to look fabulous in your shorts and vest tops.
Moreover, it is better to stay in shape throughout the year rather than trying to lose weight in a month or two.
A daily morning run, practising yoga or taking part in small group training session like our Fit Fun 30 sessions are excellent options to keep you in shape.
3. Boost Your Immune System
It is important to keep your immune system in the best possible condition, as you are more likely to get a flu or cold during the winter.
Regular physical activity ensures that your immune system works properly. Even though the most effective way to boost your immunity is by eating healthy food, regular workouts can help equally well.
If you prefer exercising in the open, then you can evade a lot of germs found in a crowded commercial gym.
The fresh air you breathe outside will strengthen your immune system by releasing friendly chemicals in your blood.
Or if the colder days can’t encourage to train outside, why not consider training indoors in a small private studio such as ours here at Healthy Glow.
4. Be Heart Healthy
When you exercise in the winter, your heart starts pumping more blood and works even harder.
This ensures blood flow throughout the body. Not exercising in the winter can lead to the weakened functioning of your heart.
Someone who exercises on a regular basis (2-3 times per week for example) will have a higher level of endurance and can take on the additional stress, thus eliminating any injury or illness.
This is because regular exercise helps in making the heart muscles stronger and improves the cardiovascular potential of your body.
5. Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D
A 10-15 min walk in the summer is enough to get all the Vitamin D your body needs.
As we tend to spend more time indoors during winter, we generally do not get the right amount of Vitamin D that our body needs.
Your central heating cannot substitute the natural heat and sunlight you get outdoors. This is the exact reason why you should wrap up and get outside in the winter.
6. Get More Zzz’s
Regular exercise and workout help you sleep better as you fall asleep early. Furthermore, there is an increase in the quality of sleep as well.
The fatigue experienced by your body because of the workout ensures that you sleep early and get proper sleep for 7-8 hours.
However, you just need to keep one thing in mind – do not exercise just before you sleep! This is because you will end up feeling too energetic to sleep.
7. Beat the Winter Blues
Feeling stressed and disinterested in activities is something that is common during the winter months.
Regular exercise in winter ensures that you de-stress your brain and have a productive day.
Furthermore, combining fun and effective activities in your daily exercises will help you get a break from your daily grind and tackle all signs of depression or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Following an exercise session, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin that are “feel good” chemicals, which help you reduce anxiety and boost your overall well-being!
8. You Can Fight Against Diseases
Regular exercise means staying physically fit, which in turn improves the release of good cholesterol (HDL).
This ensures that your blood vessels are in good shape and do not promote the absorption of LDL, which causes plaque formation.
Regular exercise helps you maintain blood sugar levels as well.
Exercising in the winter is crucial to manage Type 2 Diabetes, prevent heart disease, and decrease the risk of getting cancer.
9. Improve Your Overall Mood and Well-Being
Here at Healthy Glow we know the importance to exercise in winter because our clients tell us that they like to stay indoors during the winter and want to stay away from the cold.
Whilst we understand that we do still encourage you to go out each day to feel the sunshine and fresh air on your skin.
So when it’s dry, make sure you go out and indulge in some physical activities such as walking, cycling or even playing in the park with your kids to improve your overall well-being. Plus playing with your kids holds significant benefits for them too.
10. Improve Your Career Prospects
As most people stay lethargic during the winter, they do not work up to their potential. Being a regular exerciser keeps you active and energised. This helps in making sure that you work to your full potential at your workplace. As your productivity increases, it adds more value to your job profile. Therefore, early morning exercises such as our Fit Fun 30 sessions are a great option. They are 30 mins long and client’s tell us they are a lot of fun. A morning session sets up your day perfectly and also helps to release the useful chemicals in your body, eradicating the toxins in your body.
These are some of the major reasons why you should definitely exercise during winter.
Skipping on it will add more woes in your life than you think.
Daily exercise not only keeps you fit but also helps you in different ways like improving sleep, fighting off diseases, beating the winter blues, gaining Vitamin D, burning calories, etc.
At Healthy Glow PT Studio here in Woodvale, we help clients hit their health and fitness goals by using some of the best and most effective exercise equipment on the market.
We cater for all abilities and the hardest part of exercise is making the decision to improve your health and fitness. We have one life so don’t live half your life – live it all and you can certainly do that by focusing on your health.
Now that you know all the benefits of daily exercise, we recommend you start indulging in physical activities you enjoy as soon as possible.
And if you need or want some support, then give us a call on 9309 25 32
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