Winter Walking

Keep enjoying the outdoors even when the weather is cold. Exercising in cold weather burns more calories because your body works harder to stay warm. Be sure to protect yourself from the elements.

• Check with your healthcare provider if you have heart disease, diabetes or asthma as exercising in cold weather may be too stressful for you.
• Wear thick socks, gloves, and a hat. Use sunscreen to protect your skin, even on overcast days. The sun’s rays can pass through clouds.
• Dress in layers of comfortable, technical fabrics. Wear a turtleneck made from wicking material as your inner layer to draw moisture away from your body. As a middle layer, wear lightweight fleece that traps warm air. For a top layer, wear a breathable waterproof fabric.
• Allow more time – up to 10 minutes – for a gradual warm-up.
• If your hands or feet feel numb, return indoors.
• Do your final stretches indoors, where it is warm.

Winter walking tips from The Walking Deck by Shirley Archer, and published by Chronicle Books.