Flagging Fitness in Wintertime

Are You Using Frigid Temperatures As an Excuse to Sit Still?

By Erin Jones

Despite the gray skies or chances of snow and rain, it’s important to get outside and move your butt during the winter months. If you find yourself saying, “It’s too cold to exercise,” read on. You may soon be forced to change your excuse!

A recent New York Times article reported that it’s never too cold to go outdoors—a claim supported by most doctors. Turns out the human body is actually affected more by intense heat than it is by extreme cold. When introduced to freezing temperatures, the changes in our bodies are minimal. In fact, most exercisers are injured in hot weather, not cold.

The important things to remember about exercising outside during winter are that you should dress appropriately (do not overdress) and you should keep moving while you’re out. Also, don’t be confused about the cold air. It’s often the dryness of the winter that bothers people—especially those with asthma—not the temperature.

So hydrate, dress appropriately, and move! Mireille does all three, almost every day, despite the weather report. Unless there's a blizzard, you can find Mireille traveling on her own steam on the streets of New York or Paris all season long.