6 Reasons Why Training in Cold Weather is Good for You
Hey Angels and Alphas,
If you’re training to become a better athlete, it’s important that you work on improving your body in every way possible. One way to improve your body that many athletes often neglect – training in cold weather! If you live in an area where the temperature drops significantly during the winter months, then consider adding these six reasons why training in cold weather is good for you to your routine as soon as you can!
Think about it as a challenge
The benefits of training in the cold are well documented, but it can be difficult to convince yourself to go outside when it’s freezing.
- Cold weather helps you get a good night sleep because your body temperature drops and this signals to your brain that you’re tired.
- The cold air will help keep your lungs clear by making them work harder, which stimulates the immune system.
- Your natural reaction is to want to hunch over or curl up when you’re cold, which means your body is working hard to maintain an optimal core temperature.
- You’ll be working muscles that don’t usually get used as much which will help keep them strong.
Better Breathing
- Better Breathing- The cold air can help you breathe more deeply and get more oxygen into your system which means better overall breathing.
- Increased Growth Hormones- In the winter, less daylight means your body produces higher levels of growth hormones to keep you warm, which can actually make you healthier and stronger.
- Boosted Immune System- Even though there are less people around during wintertime, it’s easier to catch a cold because viruses are spread more easily when we’re surrounded by so many people all the time; being outside helps your immune system stay strong and healthy!
Greater Circulation and Blood Flow
The cold weather will help you to build up more of an antifreeze as the cold helps to numb your muscles and joints, which can reduce pain from exercise. In addition, because it’s so much colder out during winter months, you’ll be able to go for longer periods of time before getting too hot. This means you’ll be able to workout at a higher intensity level than if you were doing the same workout on a warmer day.
Increased Focus
When it’s cold outside, your heart has to work harder to keep you warm. This means that your heart rate increases, and this can lead to a spike in the level of adrenaline in your system. Adrenaline can lead to increased focus, which is perfect for activities like weightlifting and cross-training. Studies have also shown that training outdoors during the winter can be more effective than training indoors because people are forced to wear warmer clothes and deal with less distractions. Lastly, exercising outside when it’s cold gives you a greater sense of accomplishment than if you were doing so inside on a treadmill or stationary bike!
It’s good for your body temperature
When you train in cold weather, it takes a while for the blood to reach your skin and warm up. This means that you’re getting warmer and warmer gradually, which trains your body to regulate its temperature, so when you’re outside all day on a hot summer day, you’ll be able to handle it better.
Less Pain
Training in cold weather can be difficult and painful, but it does have a lot of benefits. One-way training in the cold helps to reduce pain is because the blood vessels contract and then expand, which lessens any pain that might come with strenuous activity.
Another benefit of training in the cold is that you’ll naturally breathe more deeply when your body heats up. This deep breathing will help oxygenate your blood, which means you’ll feel better after a workout than if you had done it inside where it’s warm. The air also has more moisture when its colder outside, so if you’re running or biking, this will make your lungs stay moist and will prevent them from drying out.
