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Post by Moonshae on Jan 7, 2019 17:01:51 GMT -8
I'm overweight, and I'm using hiking and walking as a way to complement my better eating habits. However, in cold weather, sweat is the enemy, but it's not much good for weight loss if there isn't enough cardio to make me sweat. Since I'm naturally insulated in the core (haha), I sweat pretty easily anyway (another annoyance that came with the weight gain that I will be happy to be rid of). I do layer and open zippers to vent as needed.
I'm not doing any backcountry trails where I could be many miles from anyone or anything; I'm mostly on whatever trails I can find locally here in the 'burbs so I'm not travelling too far just to get to a place to hike. Most places I have to walk every single trail in the park to hit 4-5 miles. Is hypothermia a real risk if I get sweaty under these conditions? In most cases, the car is no more than 2 miles away. I'd have to think that if I started showing signs of hypothermia, I'd have time to walk 2 miles back to the car before having to worry. I'd think I'd be more at risk if I stop rather than keep moving and generating heat. I carry or wear rain gear as needed.
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Jan 7, 2019 17:13:57 GMT -8
Unless the weather radically changes from what you expect (cold and rainy) or you get an injury you should be fine. Added bonus is that you should have decent cell reception in the 'burb parks.
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Post by Moonshae on Jan 7, 2019 17:44:25 GMT -8
I hadn't considered the injury aspect. You're right about cell reception...it's never a problem. Well, it's really sometimes a problem the other way in that I can't get away from it, lol!
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jan 7, 2019 19:34:49 GMT -8
Is hypothermia a real risk if I get sweaty under these conditions? In most cases, the car is no more than 2 miles away. Not really, especially if you're monitoring yourself to vent and de-layer as needed. You have to be pretty far gone not to be able to make two miles. Just the knowledge of a clear, achievable path to a car that close is enough to keep most people going even if they are pretty far gone. |
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OwenM
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Post by OwenM on Jan 7, 2019 22:52:05 GMT -8
Sweat shouldn't be an issue if it's cold. If it is, you're wearing too much clothing(and/or the wrong clothing).
Sweat is not the goal of exercise, and here's another way of looking it: it means you're not getting the most of it, either. After all, your body sweats to lower its temperature. If it's cold, and you want to lose weight, far better to BE cold so that your body is doing that other thing it does to maintain its temperature-burning more calories.
You might try gradually lowering the thermostat in your home, too.
And your car, office, whatever. The lower the temp on the outside, the more your metabolism has to compensate on the inside, and the more calories you'll burn.
Walking is all well and good, but it doesn't burn a ton of calories on its own. Goes well with the better eating habits, but a weight loss strategy doesn't have to end there. Ditching a layer may cause a little discomfort, but its benefits don't cost any time, money or effort, either. A lot of people may put on weight in the winter, but that's due to being less active. It's actually the perfect time to maximize weight loss if that's your goal.
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Post by Moonshae on Jan 8, 2019 16:53:12 GMT -8
Sweat shouldn't be an issue if it's cold. If it is, you're wearing too much clothing(and/or the wrong clothing). Sweat is not the goal of exercise, and here's another way of looking it: it means you're not getting the most of it, either. After all, your body sweats to lower its temperature. If it's cold, and you want to lose weight, far better to BE cold so that your body is doing that other thing it does to maintain its temperature-burning more calories. You might try gradually lowering the thermostat in your home, too. And your car, office, whatever. The lower the temp on the outside, the more your metabolism has to compensate on the inside, and the more calories you'll burn. Walking is all well and good, but it doesn't burn a ton of calories on its own. Goes well with the better eating habits, but a weight loss strategy doesn't have to end there. Ditching a layer may cause a little discomfort, but its benefits don't cost any time, money or effort, either. A lot of people may put on weight in the winter, but that's due to being less active. It's actually the perfect time to maximize weight loss if that's your goal. Good points. I'm likely to sweat unless it's really cold, as my neighbors don't want to see me letting it all hang out to be cooler! I understand layering, but I'm still figuring out which layers I need based on the weather. I'll get better at figuring out the right combination over time. I have lowered the thermostat as much as my wife and daughter will tolerate without complaint. The bedroom is even cooler, though, and I just sleep with a sheet. My wife uses the sheet plus two blankets. I know walking doesn't burn many calories, but I have been working from home 4 days a week for the past several years and didn't move much. It's more in the nature of overall fitness and getting cardio when I can't get out to hike during the week (that comes on the weekend). My diet is good now, not a fad diet, just a healthy, balanced diet but smaller portions. It will be easier to maintain that when I no longer need to lose weight than a fad diet. |
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jan 8, 2019 17:36:11 GMT -8
I know walking doesn't burn many calories ... And it's a whole lot better than not walking. |
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Post by Moonshae on Jan 8, 2019 19:28:47 GMT -8
And it's a whole lot better than not walking. Yep. That's one reason why I'm doing it. Plus, if walking every day (or nearly so) becomes a habit, it's easier to get out on the weekends for a hike. |
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Jan 18, 2019 12:00:28 GMT -8
Plus, if walking every day (or nearly so) becomes a habit, it's easier to get out on the weekends for a hike. And...in the long run your entire metabolism will increase. I'm dealing with the same thing. I retired from the Army and really relaxed (I mean REALLY RELAXED) and then had a spine issue for the last year. I'm now on a 25lb reduction in 6 months goal. Walking will be a huge part of it. Get out, let yourself get a little cold. Its just a few mile hike in great cell reception. If cold, push the pace and increase your own core temp. If warm, take a layer off. You got this so don't overthink this. Stationed in far northern Germany, I remember raining and icy February mornings. Rain because of the sea, but it iced on us because of the ground temp. Regardless, there we were on the move, marching or running. Now, don't lay around when you get back to the trail head, get into a climate controlled area (car then back to house) so your core temp doesn't drop. |
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Post by bobcat on Oct 29, 2019 17:16:18 GMT -8
I am bumping this thread now that we are getting back into cold-temperature season. One thing I do for colder temps, and anytime temps are extreme enough to be extra careful, is do repeated short loops so I never get too far from home or car or whatever’s the safe zone. The trade-off is boredom. But, for instance, I might start a bike 20- mile bike ride at a trailhead at mile 5 , instead of mile zero. Ride 5-0-5-10-5, and you cover exactly the same trail but are only half as far to the car at the extremes. Maybe figure out how to do 3 different 1-mile loops in the park, and do the whole cloverleaf twice for a 6-mile walk. I had a 3/4 mile loop that had a 1/4-mile steep climb starting right across from my house, followed by a 1/2-mile gradual downhill, that I used as a training loop when weather was threatening. I was never more than a quick sprint from home. Sure beat the treadmill, by a long shot!
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