Don’t let the crisp fall air and rich auburn leaves fool you. Winter is coming. But whether or not we’re in for another Polar Vortex, the good news is that freezing temps might actually help you slim down. According to a recent study by the University of Kentucky School of Medicine in Lexington, Ky., cold exposure prompts the body to convert white fat from the thighs and belly to calorie-burning brown fat.
The benefits of working out in cold temperatures to jump start the body’s fat burning process–brown adipose tissue, BAT, produces body heat when exposed to cold and helps to metabolize energy—was also shown in two previous studies, a 2013 Dutch study from the Maastricht University Medical Center, and a 2013 Japanese study by Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
(A bit of bad news, the University of Kentucky study found being obese hindered the process of converting white fat to brown fat, another reason why staying fit year round matters for everyone.)
So reverse your thought process that winter means packing on the pounds. Just bundle up and get going. Along with the traditional winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating, consider these four up and coming (and slightly quirky) active outdoor activities to feel the burn this winter.
Click here for the full article on Real Woman Magazine by Capital Health.
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