Skip to main content

Fitting in Fitness During the Winter



With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz

Winter is probably one of the least popular times of year. The days are shorter, the weather is gloomy and can be brutal – sometimes it feels as though winter will never end! For many reasons, people are less active during the winter months. Some people develop mild depression during the winter while others don't want to travel in the snow or cold to go to work let alone go to the gym. Even though it would be nice to curl up and hibernate, it is important to be physically active during these chilly winter months.

Benefits of Being Active
  • Decreased Depression – According to a clinical study, exercise was an effective antidepressant over both the short and long term. This could be especially helpful during the winter months when many people develop a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder.
  • Immunity Boost – According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies have shown that regular exercise can boost parts of the immune system. They recommend twenty to thirty minutes of light exercise fives times a week.
Winter Activities
There are plenty of ways to be active when the weather takes a cold turn, whether you want to brave the elements or you’d rather stay indoors.
  • Outdoor Activities – You’ll get to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature and be physically active at the same time! Some popular winter activities include:
    • Skiing (downhill or cross country)
    • Snowboarding
    • Ice Skating
    • Sledding or Tubing (walk back up the hill for extra activity!)
    • Hockey
    • Snowshoeing
  • Indoor Activities – If you prefer to stay out of the cold, there are still many ways you can be active. If you find you are getting bored with your usual routine try incorporating different activities during the week.
    • Go to the gym – if you are getting bored, ask for some new workout suggestions
    • Take a class – a new class can break up the monotony of winter workouts
    • Walk around the mall – use it as an indoor track away from the elements
    • Swimming – try going to a pool at the local fitness center or YMCA
    • Exercise at home - with a video, if you are bored with your current choices try the library or Netflix for some new titles
Important Things to Remember
  • Dress Appropriately – If you are going to exercise outside dress make sure to dress right. According to the American College of Sports Medicine you should start with a base layer made of a material that wicks away sweat. The middle layer should be one that keeps you warm, but also helps keep moisture away. The final layer should protect you from the elements. And though it is important to ensure your core is warm, make sure to keep your hands, feet, and head covered too!
  • Stay Hydrated – Just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean you get to slack on drinking water. You can dehydrate just as quickly in cold weather as you can in warm weather.
-------------------

Melissa Pryputniewicz is a graduate student of nutritionist Christine Clark in the MS in Applied Nutrition program through the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University.

Nutritionist Christine Clark works with Dining Services to provide you with tips and techniques to stay healthy during your time at Northeastern. If you have any further questions about this topic or are looking for more information about any other nutrition or diet topic, such as food allergies or sports nutrition, please contact her at christine.clark2@compass-usa.com.

References:
  1. North, T. C., P. McCullagh, and Z. V. Tran. Effect of exercise on depression. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 1990; 18(1): 379-415.
  2. Cleveland Clinic. Diet, Exercise, Stress and the Immune System. Cleveland Clinic. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/chronic_fatigue_syndrome/hic_diet_exercise_stress_and_the_immune_system.asp Published October 22, 2008. Accessed February 15, 2013.
  3. Roberts, Delia. Selecting and Effectively Using Clothing for Inclement Weather. American College of Sports Medicine. 2011.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eat Right Live Well - December 2014

Fish For Your Heart?

Cutting back on red meat is a common recommendation for both health and sustainability. What’s less clear is what we should replace the meat with. A recent study looked at this and the results may surprise you. If not red meat, what? Red meat appears on many lists of foods to eat less of due mostly to its saturated fat and cholesterol content, and the fact that we tend to eat too much of it. A recent study looked at what we should consider substituting for red meat when we follow the advice to cut back. Of all of the substitutions the study looked at, one stood out as the best choice – fish high in omega-3s. The fatty fish showed more benefits for heart health than poultry, unprocessed meat and even lean fish. Is fish safe to eat? Fish, especially the kind that gives us omega-3s, has long been considered a healthy choice. Warnings related to contamination by mercury and other toxins has left many people wondering if fish is safe to eat. For most people, the benefits of eating fish far ...

National Nutrition Month 2017: Plant Power

If you follow food trends, you’ve surely noticed that plant-based foods, recipes and restaurants have been getting a larger share of the spotlight lately. Does this mean that more of us are becoming vegetarians? Should we be? Why more plants? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, peas, nuts and seeds are key features of some of the healthiest diets in the world. Plant based foods are a common theme in the Mediterranean Diet, the DASH Diet and most dietary guidelines. The balance of health promoting nutrients with moderate calories and less of the stuff we should be limiting make plant based foods an easy fit for most people. Looking beyond personal health, to the health of our planet, plant based foods tend to more sustainable and less taxing on the environment. What is a flexitarian? Or a pescatarian? With the expansion of plant foods on our plates has come an expansion of how we refer to the way we eat. Vegetarian still refers to people who don’t eat meat, fish or poultry, but the...