Fitness Tip | Keep Warm While Exercising Outdoors

• Posted: December 20, 2010
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• Author: adminadam
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• Filed under: Divorce Stories
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Keeping warm as you exercise outdoors in the winter can definitely be a challenge. It’s hard to motivate yourself to go outside when it’s raining, snowing, or just plain freezing. The key to solving the “comfort” issue while exercising outdoors is LAYERING! It’s important to understand how to layer properly especially when the body starts cold and naturally heats-up during exercise.

Use multiple layers depending upon your location and the weather conditions in your area. Three layers are optimal for being comfortable while training in the cold. More than three layers can sometimes get bulky and inhibit your movement based upon the physical activity. The key is getting motivated to go outdoors, and then staying motivated while exercising outdoors. If it’s too difficult being weighted-down with heavy layers, you’ll stop exercising and go back indoors. Not what you want!

Start with a base layer (against the skin) that is moisture-wicking (dry-wick/air-wick material) which allows perspiration to escape from the body while keeping you comfortable. As the moisture pulls away from the skin and into the innermost layer, you are kept warm and dry. Avoid fabrics that stay wet and absorb perspiration such as cotton. Some of the best inner layer fabrics are polyester and micro fiber-based fabrics, silk and some wool.

The two layers on top of the base layer should be ones you can easily take off when you get warm such as long-sleeve shirts, vests or jackets. Then if you get cool again, you can add these layers back on. The second layer is a mid-weight insulating layer to keep you warm. Some of the best insulating layer fabrics are wool, fleece, and some polyester fiber fabrics.

The third layer is like a “shell” to keep you protected from the wind, rain and other cold climate elements. Some of the best “shell” layer fabrics are waterproof and breathable materials. Based upon the weather conditions, a plastic raincoat also works.

Additional items that keep you warm:
• Science has proven the body loses most heat from the head, so wear a hat
• Light gloves wick moisture away from the skin and keep the hands and fingers warm
• Socks keep the feet warm and wick moisture away from the skin

All in all, choose layers based upon personal preference and what your skin can handle. For example, some people are allergic to wool and may break out in hives or begin to itch very badly. It’s also recommended to wash your moisture-wicking garments in cool water inside out, and to hang-dry them as the intense heat from a dryer can minimize the wicking power of the garment over time.

Now that you know how to layer-up, you are ready to take-on the cold winter climate and enjoy your outdoor exercise!

For a full bio of Heather Binns, click here

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