How to train in winter weather.
cold-weather workouts more comfortable?
A I CAN CERTAINLY relate to your problem. I trained through many a cold Austrian winter—where temperatures would routinely drop to zero and below—and in other cold
locations when making movies or traveling for business.
I can remember workouts where my hands actually froze to the bar, and I had to rip them off! The main thing that I learned to make those workouts as productive and safe as possible was to take more time to warm up.
Start your session with several layers of clothes on and do what is today called a “dynamic warm up.” This means calisthenics like jumping jacks and other body-weight
movements that take your muscles through a full range of motion.
The goal is to break a sweat as well as pump some blood into the muscles and fluid into the joints so that when you pick up the iron you won’t strain yourself.
As you warm up, you can take some layers off. Another tip: Wear neoprene elbow and/or knee sleeves. These keep your joints warm and offer some stability.
If all else fails, come to sunny California! That’s what I did in 1968, and I haven’t looked back.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
