(Not) Exercising During the Winter

I am finding it very difficult to stay active during the winter months. For the past few years, once the snow clears, the weather warms a little and the days are longer, I start running at least 5km three times a week. In the summer, I often run every day or six days a week. Last summer, I ended up dropping below 148lbs, a weight I had kept for over ten years.

I try to keep up the running as far into the season as possible, waking up early on weekends for my morning jogs. Once the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, however, I kind of hibernate for the winter. I find it difficult to even do exercise videos or simple routines indoors. I prefer to do my exercise outside, but I am not a super huge fan of the cold. Having Raynaud Syndrome does not help.

I have been dealing with this issue for as long as I can remember. My fingers, and sometimes toes, will turn white when I get cold. Being outside during the winter, my fingers are turning white on a daily basis. I often have to taken my mittens off to find and use my keys. The minute my hands get cold, the fingers turn white. I can get the same effect from taking food out of the freezer too.

It is amazing how quickly I lose circulation in my digits, but it will take a long time for the blood flow to come back. I am often seen with my hands around my neck or around a mug of tea. In the van, I take off my gloves and stick my fingers by the heat vent. Growing up in Manitoba did not help me. After being out in the cold, I would have to run my hands under warm water to get sensation and blood back into my fingers. So, this is one deterrent for exercising outside, but not really an excuse.

My father also suffers from Raynauds. He used to go running in -20C weather, and cross country skiing when we lived in Manitoba. He still runs every weekday, living in Oakville. The weather is significantly warmer in Oakville, but still colder during the winter. I probably would not be running all winter, even if I lived down south. There is something about the darker days that shuts me down for a couple of months.

The days are getting longer, and I am longing for warmer days. It is -26C out there today, and though I could find warmer clothes, put on a toque, neck warmer, gloves, and everything else, I do not want to run in the cold. When we lived in Chapleau, I used to cross country ski on the river in the winter. Maybe when my kids get older, we can start doing that together. I suppose I could check out the trails in Capreol, but it so far. See, finding more excuses not to exercise in the winter.

How do you stay motivated? I am feeling more jelly belly of late, and this should be motivation enough. I guess I will just try to do some muscle building exercises, focus on my dance classes, and look forward to an early spring. I am taking my son skating on Wednesdays, but he is very slow, and not so stable on his own.

Hey, a lot of animals take it easy during the winter, and expend all their energy in the warmer months. Maybe I am a bear. Storing some winter fat, giving me better insulation to deal with the cold. I cannot wait for the March Break. Start running again once there is more sun in the mornings.

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