Staying healthy and active during the winter months is very important but can be challenging for many people. Some enjoy going to the gym and playing winter sports and some may not like either. Any activity during the winter months is helpful for the body and mind so it is very important that you keep yourself moving during this time of year. You not only want to keep your body healthy but also a healthy mind because the winter months can be hard for some people due to the lack of sun and a deficiency of vitamin D levels. I have collected information from a few of my peers about the different activities they involve themselves with during the winter months and discovering the different strategies they using to maintain a healthy body and mind.
Ben Meadows, a Junior at Lakeview High School and shares his thoughts about staying healthy during the winter months. Meadows shares, “Try to get in at least thirty minutes of movement several days a week. Consider taking a multivitamin, specifically Vitamin D because there is less sun during this time. Always remember to stay hydrated and eat high protein foods so you can have the endurance to push yourself through any activity.”
Meadows adds, “It is also very important to maintain a good sleeping schedule. Try to get at least eight or more hours of sleep per night. Without sleep the body will not be able to function properly making you feel drained and exhausted all day, including during your workout. This will prevent you from performing the best you possibly can. Having a lack of sleep can affect your body by raising your cortisol levels which can lead to obesity sense it basically promotes the storage of fat and increases appetite.”
Staying active while also taking care of your body work hand in hand. It is so important that you take the steps needed to ensure that your body can stay healthy and energized enough during the winter. Vitamins can definitely be very beneficial and are vital for health because they provide you with essential nutrients that power countless bodily functions including your immune system. The immune system is one of the most important things in the human body and it not only helps with preventing obesity but also defending your body from all kinds of germs and viruses.
Now we move on to Angelique Adkins, also a Junior at Lakeview High school and she shares her strategies on how she stays active and healthy during the winter months. She states, “During the winter months to stay active and healthy, I try to go to the gym at least five days a week and also eat things that I know are good for me. I try to stay away from a bunch of junk food and rather focus on higher protein meals. I focus on the cardiovascular aspect the most when I am at the gym, I will usually go on the treadmill anywhere between twenty to thirty minutes after weightlifting.”
It can make a big difference depending on if you do your cardio before or after your weightlifting workout. It can be the difference between building muscle or even losing muscle and staying the same. Anybody who is going to the gym and weighting lifting is most likely looking to improve their physique and gain muscle. Doing cardio after your workout allows your body to preserve strength and power during weightlifting. Doing cardio before your workout will burn carbs which is the fuel in your body. This will reduce your strength and lifting performance and potential slow down the muscle building process which has the potential of making you feel burnt out and lead to you giving up which can then lead to obesity.
Next we move on to Preston Littleton, a Senior at Lakeview High School and he shares his personal routine on what he does in order to stay healthy and active during the winter. According to Littleton, “I am part of the Lakeview High School basketball team. We often do a lot of cardio while training for our games. I usually practice from three to five O’clock in the afternoon and once that is done I will go home, get something to eat in order to fuel my body and will then head to the gym. I usually workout five times per week, my workouts consist mainly of weight lifting since I already did my cardio while at practice. Basketball has been very beneficial to me during the winter months and has helped keep me healthy and active constantly during this time of the year.”
Staying active during the winter months is very important for your body both mentally and physically. You should always keep your body moving even if it seems harder to do during the winter. This is very important for preventing obesity and keeping your body and mind happy. Try to find enjoyable winter activities, this could include going to the gym, playing indoor pickle ball with your friends, or even getting involved in a sport.
