Tips For Working Out During Fall & Winter
Tis the Season of Pumpkin Spiced Everything!
That means fall is officially here with winter right behind. Cold weather often translates into more aches and pains, as well as more excuses not to work out. Here are 5 tips for surviving the cold season whether you're a workout warrior or just trying to get through the pain of winter until spring!
1. Be Consistent Using Miracle Sports Cream as part of your PREWORKOUT Routine
With less daylight and colder weather, getting to the gym is hard, and getting your workout started is even harder when everything feels cold and stiff. Using Miracle Sports Cream on your legs & feet before runs or on whatever area you're focused on training on a particular day increases blood circulation and warms up your muscles, priming your body for activity. Being consistent with this preworkout routine enables your body to have an easier time getting started, gives your legs more bounce, and reduces the chances of injuries caused by strenuous or explosive activity before the body is properly warmed up.
2. Warm Up. Literally.
If your body feels cold, not only is it hard to get mentally motivated and physically going, but you are at greater risk of injury if your body is not properly warmed up. Try using the sauna for at least 5 minutes before your workout to warm up your body. If you do not have access to a sauna, try turning the heat all the way up on your drive to the gym. You can apply Miracle Sports Cream before or in the sauna—the menthol will activate and make it easier to tolerate the heat, but will feel like an ice treatment when you exit. If this is too intense, apply Miracle Sports Cream AFTER the sauna and prior to workout.
3. Dress Appropriately
If you’re working out outdoors, make sure to you wear layers and focus on not only dressing warm, but staying dry. Being wet (whether from rain or sweat being retained close to skin) will lower your body temperature and make you feel uncomfortable, which means wanting to cut your workouts short at best, and putting you at risk for hypothermia at worst. Try to wear clothes made out of synthetics like polyester and nylon which are designed to dry quickly and move moisture away from the skin. Protect extremities and exposed skin with headbands, gloves, face masks and other accessories that you can easily stash in a pocket if you get too warm. Try thicker socks or shoe covers if you find your toes getting cold or numb.
4. A Hot Soak + Miracle Sports Cream Is the Ultimate Recovery Regiment (and Treat)
Being sore can create an even greater obstacle to going to gym when it’s cold out. A post-workout regiment of a hot bath soak with Body + Soul’s bath teas followed by Miracle Sports Cream not only feels like a luxury when your body is aching, but can significantly reduce soreness the next day, giving you less excuses to workout.
You don't even have to workout to enjoy a bath tea. Soaking with a bath tea helps warm up your bones when it's cold out, and is the perfect home spa treatment on days you need a pick-me-up.
Each bath tea comes in a single-use tea bag for easy clean up. You can chose from 5 experiences including: Recovery (Sandalwood Clove), Awakening (Eucalyptus Rosemary), Calming (Lavender Chamomile, Rejuvenate (Lemongrass Bergamot) and Love Goddess (Rose).
Body + Soul Bath Teas feature Epsom salt, therapeutic-grade essential oils and herbs to reduce inflammation, loosen up the muscles and induce a feeling of deep relaxation. When you apply Miracle Sports Cream immediately after soaking with a bath tea, the menthol in the cream will activate from the body heat and create a relaxing tingle. You’ll feel like you just got a massage and sleep so good you might wake up with your toes still curled.
5. Listen to Your Body
There's a big difference between not working out because you don't feel like it and not working out because your body needs to heal. If you feel that you have sustained an injury or are at risk of overtraining, taking a day or two to rest and recover is perfectly fine and may actually help you achieve your goals more effectively than overtraining or training with injury.
In regards to exercising when you're feeling under the weather, use the Above/Below the Neck rule of thumb--if your symptoms are above the neck--congestion, running nose, sneezing, sore throat--but your energy level is good otherwise, feel free to exercise.
If your symptoms are below the neck--coughing, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, skip the workout and rest.
End of the day, we know our own bodies best and our bodies will tell us whether it can safely go--listen to your body and remember that rest and recovery are as important to mental and physical health as exercise.
We wish everyone happy holidays and safe training during the upcoming chilly months!