Be fit!
Friday 5 October 2007
As the days get colder we all tend to stay indoors a lot more. n2k looks at ways of keeping warm, fit and healthy - all at the same time.
SAD?
Do you ever find yourself feeling really low for no real reason during winter? If so you could be suffering from SAD. SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder and experts think it is caused by the l ack of light in the winter. This affects the body’s production of serotonin which is a chemical that body makes that helps regulate your mood. Most people don’t get SAD until they reach their 20’s but if you think you might have it is worth consulting your GP.
Diet
There are a few common sense ways staying healthy during winter including eating a balanced diet . A balanced diet includes colourful fruits and vegetables and minimizes sugar and sweets. Find out more about eating healthily.
Exercise
Regular exercise is vital to boost your body's ability to fight infections. A strong, healthy body will translate into a strong, healthy immune system, making it more able to cope with potential cold and flu viruses – which of course we all get more of in the winter.
Stay safe
Whether you are exercising in a gym or outdoors on your own, always make sure that you warm up before you start and cool down at the end. This minimizes that horrible stiff feeling you can get the next morning after exercise.
Also remember to drink plenty of water after exercise. During exercise drink water regularly in small sips to make sure you don’t get bloated.
Indoors
Some exercises you could try are aerobics, running or even just walking. This will increase the flow of blood around the body and encourage it to flush away waste products more efficiently, helping to keep cold viruses out.
There are hundreds of indoor swimming pools in the UK which are usually cheap to use and also good for meeting people! Swimming is one of the best ways to keep fit in the winter.
Weight training is also a really good way of getting the blood flowing. If you decide to join a gym make sure you get a full induction from the fitness experts first – you don’t want to over do it or use the equipment wrongly. It’s important to make sure you exercise safely.
Watch the 3 minute home workout video!
Great outdoors
Scientists say that the outdoors – especially nature, can often make people feel happier. Even the sound of a river has been known to increase happiness. If you live in the city try to get to a park or even out in the country at least once every two weeks.
Going for a walk when it’s really cold is really good for your body as it has to work overtime to get warm and you may burn up to 50% more calories than you would on the same walk in summer! Start slow until you warm up and keep drinking water.
Other exercises such as jogging, cycling are also really good ways to keep fit in the outdoors.
More winter tips
If you do catch a flu it’s best to recover fully before you start the exercise routine again. If you do end up on the couch though try not to stuff yourself with chocolate and crisps but go for a healthy protein bar instead. Remember it’s ok to have lazy days once in a while but don’t fall out of your exercise habit.
Also try to spend as much time as possible in natural daylight or even just bright rooms or by a window.
Finally – keep well wrapped up!
