Temperatures might go up and down with every passing week or month, but the need to exercise doesn’t go away. In fact, sometimes in the cold weather, we need to make an extra effort to exercise so that we can work off all that Thanksgiving and Christmas food or make up for walking in the great outdoors a bit less often. How is it done?
Because the annual season stretches right across winter, National Football League (NFL) players have found plenty of ways to make sure that every second counts during training. With the start of the season just as summer ends in September and the Super Bowl usually played in cold conditions in February, these guys have found plenty of ways to make sure that the cold weather doesn’t stop them from getting their bodies in shape for the big games.
Eating well
When it comes to winter weather, eating well is certainly something that we can all get on board with. Hot soups, delicious stews, and steaming pies are on the menu in a lot of American households, and there’s no reason to believe that NFL players are any different.
In fact, a lot of top footballers make the decision to eat and drink at just the right time to keep their bodies warm. Of course, you can’t go out onto the pitch straight after having had a large meal, so as an athlete it makes sense to limit your pre-match intake to liquids that are not too rich but that provide a warm feeling inside and keep that all important body temperature level up.
Some NFL footballers, for example, enjoy a nice warming mug of hot chocolate around the time of the game, as this not only keeps them hydrated but also gives their internal warmth a boost. Staying warm when playing outside during the cold weather also requires a bit of strategy, and this often comes in the form of soup. When players go to the sides of the pitch for a break for any reason during a game, they’ll often drink a cup of broth to stay warm without giving themselves any reason to feel sick.
Wear the right clothes
For those of us who aren’t NFL footballers, our idea of cold weather clothes often revolves around heavy jackets, thick gloves, and a comfortable woolen hat. However, when you’re out on the pitch running for hours on end, this is simply not practical. Scarves are no good when you need the agility of a professional athlete, but other close-fitting, heat-retaining clothes certainly are!
This is why wearing clothes that are light yet retain heat is essential for those who are moving a lot in the cold weather. Opting for compression shorts is a great idea, as these 4D garments with strong back support not only help you to stay warm but also give you the chance to look after other parts of your body, such as helping your muscles recover after a strong workout.
Stay on the move
When you’re in the middle of an intense workout or you’re playing a serious football match, there can be all sorts of reasons to temporarily halt what you’re doing. While taking a break is important from time to time, it can lead to feeling cold. If you do need to stop what you’re doing for some reason, it’s wise to jog on the spot in order to keep warm and prevent your body from cooling down too much.
Similarly, it’s a wise idea to invest in a warm place to rest if you can in order to keep your body temperature up during a break. For many NFL players, this comes in the form of a heated bench at the side of the pitch, but for you it could be as simple as a blanket or a warm coat kept near your exercise spot just for that purpose.
As the experience of NFL players across the country shows, there are plenty of ways to stay warm when exercising out in the cold during the winter months. Whether it’s taking strategic decisions to eat and drink the right foods and liquids or investing in some compression gear to stay cozy, it’s important to find a method of staying warm that works for you and that provides you with the tools that you need to avoid developing the complicated health problems that the cold weather can bring to those who are unprepared.
