How Do You Prepare For Workouts In The Winter Months?

If you looked at the big picture of what brings you opportunities to train, you'd find out you can workout anywhere under most circumstances (there are some things that aren't always in our control) and be able to train in just about any form of weather although I wouldn't test that theory during a hurricane, tornado or in acid rain LOL. 

You can always get to the gym but if there's a blizzard out or Hurricane Karen is approaching, you might want to rethink your priorities. Bodyweight is one of the better options and so are things like Isometrics where you can use things in your household to create a great workout. Now if you want to go to extremes and want to take your chances out in the freezing ass cold, you might want to take the approach of Russian Athletes like the legendary Alexander Karelin whom trained in the dead of winter for decades doing everything from running, calisthenics, wrestling, lifting weights and even drills that would make most men puke their guts out. 

Winter Workouts can be a time of great importance as it teaches you a level of mental toughness and taking on tasks that would humble most. Shoveling snow can be a hell of a workout especially if it's on a daily basis in certain areas around the country and Canada. It's hard work and puts you on a level even this generation would be baffled by. How do you even prepare for workouts in the dead of winter? For one, be prepared to stay as warm as possible, two, you might want to learn some breathing techniques such as the Wim Hoff Method and three, cold showers can be your best friend.

For the workouts themselves, it depends on your goals and making the most out of what is possible at the time. If you're not use to the cold and you try to do workouts with as less clothing as possible, you could make yourself sick or even worse so it is important to build a tolerance. Learn from those like the Finnish with their ideas of the sauna and rolling in snow or going into a freezing lake, learn from Wim Hoff and learn from athletes who thrive in cold weather. From time to time, I'll train out in the snow doing mace swings, hammer strikes, kettlebell work or even some pushups and crawls but as a guy who grew up on the beaches of Santa Cruz, California there's always that mentality where being warm is just part of your nature and being in a warmer climate is something that you can't let go of. 

I've trained in t-shirts and shorts out in the snow and am always told how crazy I 'am but the truth is, I don't go out in the snow for hours at a time for specific reasons. One of them being that after a period, it can be almost near painful because of the rod and pins in my legs, when it's stupid cold out, I can feel it right away and need to be careful. I'll still crazy shit out there but only during a small window and have to balance out the cold and warmth. That's just life man and you do what works best. 

Make your winter workouts fun, that's another important thing to prepare for. If you condition yourself to hate the cold, you're going to be miserable but if you condition  your mind to be able to tolerate the cold and make something interesting out of it, you might get more enjoyment out of it. Go sledding, if you're into skiing or snowboarding, make it worth your while. Workouts should never feel like a chore or conditioned to hate. When you're a world-class athlete, you might end up hating the workouts because they're so damn hard, they'll make you wish you want to die but you do it for the sake of being the best possible. Those are the people that go a completely different route than most people and it's not always wise to train like a world-class athlete when you can barely keep up with the most basic exercises. 

Be prepared by expecting the unexpected, mentally condition yourself and physically level up little by little to train in winter. Have fun with it and challenge yourself little by little. Hell just standing there for several minutes at first may be all you can handle but it's not impossible to train hard, be smart about it and listen to your body. Be bold and keep being amazingly awesome. 

The Snow Has Fallen...FACK

 It is the first big snow day here in Hayden/Coeur D Alene Idaho which means time to get the jacket, sweats, gloves, boots and of course the almighty shovel. Life can't be anymore fun...Bullshit. To sum it up...Whoopie Fucking Doo. 

For real though, shoveling snow can be an invigorating experience and teach you valuable lessons like hard work, handling yourself in various conditions, getting the most out of the time you use like putting on some tunes. Sometimes it'll feel like you're in a war with the snow because it sometimes can get slushy so it weighs more as you pick up and toss. I envy those who live in warmer climates that don't have to do that unless you work at a site and shovel or farmer carry gravel and dirt. 

Many people around here do have snow blowers but there's something about having a shovel in your hands and putting in the work to ensure the people you care about can get out safely and get to where they need to. Hell yeah a snow blower is much easier to use but not everyone can afford one or even understand how to operate one so you go old school. Having a shovel and working heavy snow at times can be a test of your will and enduring strength. Some will say snow shoveling is not that big of a deal and saying how hard it is makes you sound weak and pathetic but the truth is, not everyone can last doing an hour or more of shoveling snow especially if its slushy as hell and if you live up in the mountains without many people around, a shovel can be your best friend or a pain in the ass. It's a matter of perspective.

It's always a good thing to help a neighbor when you can especially if that neighbor has kids and they're trying to get their car out. A snow blower won't always be the best option. That's what I love about this neighborhood, there are people who look out for one another and if there's an opportunity to help out, you do what you can. With all the crap that goes on in the world, there's still humanity somewhere and we have to hold onto that as best as we can.

One of things that has helped me stay injury free during the winter months and shoveling snow has been Isometrics. You wouldn't think that was possible but the fact is, moving snow can feel awkward and using muscles you normally don't use as you twist, pick up, turn and toss can have an impact on the body. Isometrics can give those movements a bit of leeway as you push/pull and twist in different directions. Hell there are workouts where I practice Isometric Shoveling in order to train my body so I don't hurt myself. There are people who do get hurt shoveling snow and it does happen often, not in a major way but enough where for some people there are issues especially in the hips, knees, elbows and shoulders. 

Now I'm not saying it takes a ton of strength cause it really doesn't or it makes you a better athlete, but snow shoveling isn't an easy task it's not meant to, simple yes and not difficult but you never know what you'll end having to do cause it can powdery one day and feel like easiest thing ever, the next day with slush, it can feel heavy as hell and the body has to adapt otherwise something could go wrong. This is where muscles do well for you but strong tendons and ligaments make the biggest difference. Obviously it's not a muscle builder or make you shredded but it is hard work and builds up mental toughness. 

Stay safe out there, help a neighbor, keep warm as much as you can and keep your body and mind healthy. Real strength comes from within and look out for one another, we can always use a bit of help sometimes. As always, be Amazingly Awesome. 

Build A Connection Outside

            Training out in the open has a special feeling to it, out in the open air, building that connection to the earth and gaining a perspective of what it was like to do things from a long time ago. It’s fun to go run, jump, play and do all kinds of things with the right imagination and having a bit of that inner child in you.

            Unlike a closed in space of a gym, you have total freedom out in the open, go running on the grass or on a field at a park, move around like an animal out in the wild and give your body that Vitamin D it needs to help the skin. Being free gives you opportunities you can’t get from other places. Imagine being at a park, running around, having a good time, do a few exercises here and there or if you’re like my good friend Bud Jeffries, try to find some heavy ass stones to lift.

            The ability to go anywhere and do all sorts of things is our birthright, exploring, trying different things, being in beautiful places and making the best of it. Training outside is more natural, getting out in the sun or maybe even in the snow a bit. Being in the snow builds a level of toughness and you burn more calories I believe in the snow because your body is like an automatic heater, it has to keep warm and your body’s nervous system kicks into a different gear. In the sun like in the summer, your body’s cooling system is shifted and you have to hydrate more.

            The best time I believe to train outside is in the morning, the air is fresher and the connection is better between you and the earth. When it comes to weather however I prefer the summertime when the sun’s out, its warm, bringing something to drink to keep you hydrated and just have a grand old time, if you live by the ocean or a lake, go jump in and go swimming, got a pool, use it and have fun. The snow can be fun too but you might not last as long and you want to wear what you can to keep you warm but being in the snow has it’s benefits. In the snow it builds a different type of mental toughness and it builds character in a certain way, sometimes you have to walk somewhere and it’s less than 20 degrees out, that’s just insane and I wouldn't do it in shorts trust me.

            Get your ass outside as much as you can, there’s a whole world to see and you can train in ways you never have before, it’s like being a kid again and you’re playing on the playground. Have fun, be adventurous and explore. You never know what you’ll find.