Many of us find it hard to exercise as the weather turns. But why? And what can we do? It seems a shame for me to say “Well, just stop any exercise until the spring is here”…
by Saskia Wickenden |
During her appointment last week, a client of mine expressed her annoyance and disappointment with herself. She is a fantastic runner, and has just resumed her training following a two-month break after surgery. But she’s frustrated because her body isn’t performing how she is expecting it to.
Aside from the fact that her body is still recovering from surgery, there is another factor here. And it’s the truth (whether you want to hear it or not)…winter is coming.
Many of us find it hard to exercise as the weather turns. But why?
There are many reasons why the colder weather can affect how we exercise, such as slippery roads and dark evenings, but here are my two biggest considerations.
Firstly, our body is literally having to work harder. Colder temperatures mean more energy is needed to warm up the muscles and joints properly, and the body needs to work harder to stay warm during a workout. With a lot more energy being used to stay warm, you may find yourself with less energy for your exercises.
Secondly, finding the motivation to exercise when it’s cold outside is hard. On a wet and windy day it takes a lot of effort to leave your warm, cosy house. Blaming the weather is an easy way of saying “I’ll do it tomorrow”.
So what can we do? It seems a shame for me to say “Well, just stop any exercise until the spring is here”…
But most importantly of all, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s nearly Christmas after all! 
Welcome to Gatehouse Health. It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally ready to open our doors on 29th April 2024!
