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Trying to stay motivated by training in the winter can be difficult, especially during a season where new myths and misconceptions about fitness are prominent. Not only do these misconceptions stop some people from starting their fitness journey, they can wreak havoc on their goals, even for experienced fitness enthusiasts.
To help you avoid making foolish assumptions this season, we spoke to four experts who debunked the most common winter fitness myths to help you train and stay on track.
“If you run in the cold, you’ll feel worse.”
man running outside in the cold
This time of year, you may want to stay cozy inside your home rather than lace up your running shoes and brave the cold weather for fear of getting sick. But actually, it’s perfectly fine to exercise outdoors in the winter. “You’re not going to get sick, so put on your gloves, put on your hat, and get out there!” says Hannah Walker, co-founder of Bimble and Bolt.
“Running can be safe and healthy in cold weather by wearing the right clothing to keep you warm and dry. Wear layers of moisture-wicking material and wear wet clothing after your run. It is important to change your clothes immediately. It is also recommended to take a hot shower or bath immediately afterward to warm up your numb nose and cold toes.
“You can eat whatever you like while bulking.”
man eating pizza at the gym
This time of year, especially for bodybuilders, is when shorts go out and baggy T-shirts are in fashion, so it’s time to start winter bulk training to store more meat and muscle. However, people often fall into the trap of eating too many calories or eating too much. Something that has no nutritional value. “Eating 5,000 calories of junk food a day doesn’t make you Dwayne Johnson, that’s for sure,” says Steve Chambers, a certified personal trainer with Ultimate Performance.
“The macronutrients and health benefits of consuming 3,500 calories a day of lean protein, good carbohydrates, and healthy fats compared to eating 3,500 calories of pizza a day are, if you’ll pardon the joke, chalky… And it’s like cheese. “Dirty bulk” certainly makes you bulkier, but it also adds unnecessary fat to almost every part of your body. ”
“Hydration is not that important”
Woman drinking water from a water bottle at the gym
You may not feel as thirsty during a winter workout as opposed to the summer, but that doesn’t mean staying hydrated is any less important. Luis Silva, head of fitness and wellbeing at Castle Royle and personal trainer, says: “Cold weather can reduce your thirst by up to 40%, so you need to be conscious about staying hydrated.” and talk.
“This therefore increases the risk of dehydration, which can lead to muscle cramps, reduced energy efficiency, decreased performance due to reduced mobility and flexibility, and in extreme cases, health fatigue and kidney problems. During exercise, especially in winter, drink small amounts of water.
“If you sweat at the gym, you can cure your illness.”
A man wipes sweat from his forehead with a T-shirt at the gym
You’d think the same would apply to alcohol after a night out, but neither the treadmill nor intense squats seem to have any effect. “Unfortunately, it is scientifically impossible. You cannot ‘sweat out’ a virus or disease,” asserts Arusha Nekonam, a certified personal trainer at Ultimate Performance.
“Sweating is the body’s natural response when it overheats, but it does not eliminate viruses through sweat. Exercise acts as a stressor on the body, but if you stay fit and healthy, can cope with this stress. However, if your immune system is weakened due to illness, exposing your body to additional stress trauma further depletes your energy reserves and further strains your immune system. This can lead to increased risk of infection, delayed recovery, and increased susceptibility to further infections.”
