Friday Fives: How To Stay Healthy As The Weather Gets Colder

It’s finally fall, and the weather has started to show it. With the colder weather, the motivation to stay healthy disappears as we lounge around  in our sweaters and relax in cozy blankets, but here are some tips to keep you going through the cold season.

1. Dress in layers

It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you have to pack away the shorts and t-shirts. Because we’re inside most of our day, it can get hot having thick clothing on inside for hours at a time, so it’s a good idea to layer your clothes. When going outdoors, even for a short period of time, put a jacket or coat on over your shirt, or some sweatpants if you choose to wear shorts, so that you’re nice and warm. Once you get inside, feel free to take off a layer or two and make yourself comfortable.

2. Get a fitbit or pedometer

An article published in the “The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity” found that studies recommend that adolescents should get at least 10,000 to 11,700 steps per day to account for 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is the widespread daily recommendation. Use a fitbit or pedometer to keep track of the steps you take in a day, and to remind yourself to get up and moving more as you spend more time indoors.

3. Eat in moderation

With all of the treats around this time of year, it’s easy to eat too much junk food. It’s nice to eat these once in a while, but when we eat too much of these, that’s when we start to pack on the pounds. Make sure to balance your diet with some healthy foods to keep your energy up. This can be as easy as throwing some vegetables into a pot and making yourself a nice, warm bowl of soup, which can be anywhere from about 100 to 200  calories for a large bowl. 

4. Don’t forget to hydrate

It’s flu season! So, that means taking extra care of your body, including drinking water. Although it may be cooler outside, according to the CDC, your body needs water to counteract fevers and regulate your body temperature. Try to carry a water bottle around at all times, and stay away from those classic fall drinks, like hot chocolate and pumpkin spice lattes, because they have a lot of sugar and little nutritional value.

5. Stay active

You can still go for a run or play some ball,  just make sure to bundle up for the weather. Whether you decide to do it indoors or outdoors, ice skating is a great activity for this season. Ice skating  gets you moving and can easily be made into a fun group activity. Who says that you can’t make gains in the winter? Go to your nearest gym to lift, bike, swim and more, no matter what the weather is like.