These 3 Perks Of Cold Weather Exercise Will Convince You To Go Outside

Exercise, whether inside or outside, is supremely healthy — it reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, makes you stronger, lowers your risk of cancer and boosts your mood.

What’s more, working out in the cold weather actually packs additional benefits for your physical and mental health. We asked experts to share the best reasons to exercise in the chilly air. The next time you’re struggling to find the motivation for an outdoor workout on a cold winter day, remember these perks:

Your heart has to work a little harder, which can benefit your endurance.

People who run marathons often go by the adage, “If I can train on a rainy, cold day, I can run on a sunny, spring day.” Turns out there is a lot of truth to that.

According to Angela Pepdjonovic, a physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, “Your heart has to work a little bit harder to pump blood around your body during exercise, particularly in the cold… This can help to boost your endurance over time as this enhances your body’s ability to regulate temperature efficiently.”

Those cold-weather cardiovascular perks can propel you year-round, Pepdjonovic said. Plus, “As your body is required to work harder than it normally would to maintain its core temperature, some studies show that you actually increase your calorie burn by exercising in the cold,” Pepdjonovic added.

However, it’s worth noting that while a cold weather heart pump can be beneficial for some, it can be dangerous for others.

“There are definitely some risks… your cardiovascular system is working harder, so some underlying conditions [like COPD or asthma] can become exacerbated,” Pepdjonovic explained. Without proper precautions, folks with these kinds of conditions are at