Benefits of training in the cold

Have you noticed it, right? The cold is already here, but don't be afraid because training under harsh weather conditions like the cold has its benefits. We'll tell you about them.

Why training in the cold can be a great option

Winter is coming, as series fans would say. The thermometer in the mornings brings us back to the harsh reality of winter and training under such low temperatures seems to hurt twice as much, at least at the start.

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However, training under cold conditions has advantages, not only disadvantages, and that's what we're writing about today.

Of course, our cold is laughable for many Nordic countries, where training even under the snow is the norm in the winter months. But the truth is that the climate and climatic comfort is an undeniable factor of incitement to sports activity.

Several studies have found evidence of what training in the cold or even in very cold conditions can bring. As heat or cold are relative, let's say we're talking about temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius.

Below that temperature, and to warm up, the initial effort is more significant. But then, to maintain that body temperature, we will have to demand less of ourselves. Let's say that, for hard and prolonged workouts, in summary, it will cost us more to reach the optimal heat point but once achieved, it will be easier for us to maintain it and prolong the training over time.

More advantages of training in the cold

But there are also more advantages. You see, with cold you burn more calories. That's right. It's a general rule and obviously depends largely on your diet, the amount and type. We have talked on other occasions about issues such as macronutrients or diets for cyclists.

The point is that, with your body at a lower temperature, it needs to burn more calories to gain heat. Let's say that metabolic activity increases considerably so that your body consumes more energy that it quickly converts into heat.

In fact, several studies found that, under cold conditions, even reducing the amount of clothing, the energy consumed could increase by about 15% in an hour of demanding exercise.

In addition, your immune system increases the number of leukocytes and granulocytes. Therefore, in short, it also comes out strengthened from these adverse conditions. That said, a lack of clothing to reach the optimal exercise temperature exposes you to a greater degree to viruses, for example. We could say that your body, which intelligently adapts to conditions, is more demanding in the cold but that, in summary, you should not go out in short jersey in the middle of a cold wave.

Some final tips, more obvious, are that you won't need as much liquid to hydrate, so controlling your hydration is easier. And, of course, that your warm-up is very careful, because if not, injuries abound and are more recurrent. Use warming cream if you see that it is impossible to get warm.

So now you know, onion model, with two or three layers that you can do without as you gain heat. And don't let the mercury stop you.