O Winter it's a delicious season to eat: chocolates, fondues, soups, feijoadas and pastas are among the preferences of the time. But that doesn't happen without reason. the fact that we feel desire to eat stronger and more fatty foods is body need in relation to the cold. On the other hand, getting out of bed earlier, at this time, to practice physical activity makes you feel lazy...
It is precisely with the idea of warding off laziness, taking into account the benefits of physical activity during the winter, that we will address this issue.
First of all, it is necessary to remember that the frequency and the intensity of physical activity, which is your custom, should not change during the winter. This means that you should continue practicing your usual exercises from three to five times per week; that the exercise should occupy between thirty minutes and one hour (except for athletes, in which the time spent practicing physical activity is longer); and that during this period of practice you should keep the amount of exercise you usually do in your daily life.
The benefits of physical activity during the coldest period of the year are no different from the benefits of physical activity during other seasons. What happens is that as caloric intake increases a lot during the cold, people tend to gain weight. Thus, when not practicing physical activity, weight gain tends to be even greater.
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Furthermore, it increases the disposition for everyday practices; there is a clear feeling of welfare, due to the increase of endorphin; there is an increase in cardiorespiratory abilities of the practitioner; and the maintenance of muscle strength.
However, if on the one hand the benefits of physical activity in winter are very close to those in summer, on the other hand, the precautions that must be taken to carry out the practice are different. It is necessary that the period of heating be from twenty minutes, on average, in addition to the stretching, to prevent muscle contractions, more common at this time of year; the use of light clothes, but that warm the practitioner, also deserves attention; don't forget the body hydration, essential at any time of year, but even more important in winter, when the weather is quite dry.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "Physical Activity During Winter"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/atividade-fisica-durante-inverno.htm. Accessed on July 27, 2021.
