Sunday, January 6, 2013

Warm vs Cold


What do y'all think?  This is Mr. Amazing's rough draft of my new logo!  I'm so excited to finally get a logo.

When I was in Virginia, in subartic conditions [going from a state that's 75 to one that's 25 should be considered cruel and unusual torture!] I started to think about how exercising in the winter (or cold weather) differs from exercising in the summer (or warm weather).  I already know that your body works harder when it's cold because your body is trying to stay warm.  They even say that it's better to swim in a cold pool rather than a warm one.

According to Montana State University-Bozeman, since we need to maintain a body temperature of 98.6 our bodies work harder.  But, "sever and moderate cold can adversely affect the performance of activities that depend on high levels of anaerobic power."

On the opposite end of the season spectrum, in a trial published by the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 9 cyclists cycled for 90 minutes in temperatures of 14, 32, 50, and 68 degrees.  They found that the subjects burned MORE fat calories the warmer it was.  0.15 grams per minute at 14 degrees and 0.4 grams per minute at 68 degrees.

Thefactsaboutfitness.com also talks about how LPL (an enzyme that promotes fat storage), cortisol, serotonin, and testosterone levels change with the seasons.  All of these chemicals affect how your body loses and gains weight.  

Oddly, I've been reading people say that they GAIN weight in the summer.  I know I personally have no issue atleast maintaining, if not losing weight in the summer.  But, at the same time I spend atleast 3 hours a day at the pool, beach, or park during the summer.  

What about you?  Do you lose or gain weight in the summer?  What about in the winter?


University of Montana - Bozeman
The Facts About Fitness

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