Fitness tips: Building a snowman can help you lose weight

If you’re in hibernation mode this winter (and I know I am), maybe this news will motivate you to get out of the house: exercising in the cold may help you lose weight. Dr. Ronald W. Deitrick, a science professor from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania says using large muscle groups in cold weather actually burns more calories than working out when it’s warm.

‘Your body has to work harder just to generate heat when you’re out in the cold. So exercising during the cold winter months can be more effective in burning calories than working out at the gym or in your home,’ Deitrick says in a press release. 

OK, I can hear you all groaning from behind your computer screens, and I get it’exercising outside in this cold seems like torture. But the workouts Deitrick suggests are so much fun, you won’t even notice your face is numb: Cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, even building a snowman are all enough to help you burn calories during the winter months. Just make sure to wear layers, do a longer warm-up before engaging in outdoor activities and keep moving at a slightly higher intensity than you would in warmer weather to help fend off the cold, Deitrick advises. Of course you should always check with your doctor before trying any new kind of physical activity.

I think I might skip my gym workout this weekend in favour of building a good old fashioned snow fort in my front yard. So much more fun than the treadmill.

What are your favourite outdoor winter activities?

Related:
‘ 6 secrets to making winter fitness fun
‘ 9 safety tips for winter sports
‘ How to set your winter fitness goals