Tips for exercising in winter

There are many benefits to exercising in the cold. You use more energy in winter, which means you burn more kilojoules and as you're burning more energy, you sleep better at night. In addition, regular exercise is also one of the best ways to boost your immune system and fend off wintertime colds and other illnesses.

But there are a few things to be aware of when you're exercising in the cold:

• Warm-up! It is important to warm up at any time before exercise, but it is particularly important during the colder months, as the body's temperature is generally a little lower and the joints take a little bit longer to warm up properly.
  
• Stretch! Stretching is really important in the winter months as it's easier to cramp up or pull a cold muscle.
  
• Moisturise. The colder air and dry your skin so remember to use a moisturiser on your lips, face, hands etc. 
• Hydrate! A lot of people forget the importance of water during the colder months. So make sure that you drink plenty of water as it is easy to become dehydrated during the cold months.
• Whenever exercise is stopped or paused for any longer than a couple of minutes, take off any wet clothes as soon as possible and put on a jacket and tracksuit pants to avoid getting a chill.