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To all the people hiding from the cold weather: this is actually the best time for you to be outside and training. Here's why:
1. 70-80% of the body's energy goes to thermoregulation alone. Training out in the cold makes your body work harder both physically and to heat you, creating more an of energy deficit. That means more fat loss!
2. Although strength gains can be maintained by training every 14-20 days, cardio-respiratory gains must be maintained at a minimum every 5-7 days. If you want to IMPROVE your cardio, you should be doing it every two or three days. Go ruck or do your runs in the cold, and you'll get more gains.
3. People generally slow down in the winter, and hide from being outside. Because of out-dated survival mechanisms, they tend to eat more during the winter. Don't give in to your instincts.
4. Humans evolved for millions of years outside, despite such terrible climate changes. As with strength and cardio training, our bodies positively adapt and thrive in such a challenging environment as the cold or heat.
5. For every day you spend on the couch, eating and waiting for "nice weather," you are losing your cardio gains and gaining fat in the process.
6. Most people tend to start "getting in shape" around Spring or Summer, not realizing that your summer body is literally built during the Winter. Even better, your Summer body is evidence of what you did all Winter. Make wise decisions.
Get outside and work your body, burn fat, and live like a human is supposed to!!
Sources:
An Infantry Life
Cohen, Barbara Jansen, Kerry Hull, & Jason James Taylor. (2013). Memmler s The Human Body in Health and Disease. 12th Edition.
Kenney L. W., Wilmore, J. H., & D. L. Costill. (2015). Physiology of Sport and Exercise (5th Ed.).
Tortora, G. J. & B. Derrickson. (2012). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (12th Ed)
