Buzz
This year has introduced a variety of new experiences. Working out at home was a somewhat recent adjustment for me. Then came lifting outdoors, a necessity due to the low ceilings in my garage. As the seasons shifted, I found myself lifting in the cold, dark, and snow. It’s definitely possible. Here are my tips.
Prioritize Safety
First, you need to establish your priorities. I made a decision to only skip workouts when I truly couldn’t lift—not just because I didn’t feel like it. So, the golden rule is: Getting your workout done is more important than feeling comfortable.
However, there is another important consideration: safety should always take precedence over completing a workout. Some lifts, such as split jerks, require solid traction between my shoes and the ground. If it's raining or snowing on clean and jerk day, I'll swap it with another day on my workout schedule.
These priorities come with some compromises. Since I don’t rely on gloves to maintain my grip on heavy lifts, I choose to lift with bare hands, no matter the weather. Safety always takes priority over comfort.
Keep Warm
You'll need to layer up, of course. If you’re familiar with winter sports or if you run in the cold, you already know the drill. Put on your fleece-lined running tights, a few layers of shirts and hoodies, your hat or headband, and your wool socks.
Be cautious of hoodie cords, though. I’ve definitely had them flip up into my face a few times. Tuck them in, remove them, or tie them behind the hood—whatever it takes to avoid the hassle.
Whenever you're adding clothing that isn't part of your usual lifting attire, try it out with lighter lifts first. It's better to realize your jacket restricts arm movement during your warm-up set than when you're attempting a maximum lift. Luckily, you'll probably end up shedding layers as your workout progresses.
But do be prepared for some unexpected moments. A few things I've noticed include:
Getting knee sleeves over insulated leggings is trickier than over regular leggings, and sometimes they can bunch up behind the knees.
A hat with a large pom-pom is surprisingly less distracting than I anticipated. I wear it every cold day.
It’s a hassle to put a lifting belt over the pockets and zipper of a regular hoodie, but a cropped hoodie makes managing the belt much easier.
Keep Warm Between Sets
If you're doing a lot of circuit-style workouts, where your heart rate stays elevated between exercises, you probably won’t need to worry about this. However, if your exercises require significant rest between sets, I suggest creating a warm ‘home base’ where you can return to while you rest.
I lift in the driveway, so my garage is that cozy cave. In there I have:
A camp chair
A fuzzy blanket
A pillow full of dry rice, which I microwave at the start of the workout
Extra layers of clothing
Remember how I said I don’t use gloves? After each lift I retreat to my cave, sit in the chair, pull the blanket over my lap, and hold that piping hot rice pillow until my hands feel warm again. (For even colder weather, I’m considering making a pair of small rice pillows out of socks so I can drape them over the spots where my hands go on the bar.)
An electric blanket or heating pad might be a nice addition. If I had a space heater, I might use one, safety permitting.
Plan for everything
Similar to winter running, the best way to get used to winter lifting is to start before the weather becomes harsh. One day, you’ll find yourself needing to wear a long-sleeved shirt. Eventually, you might switch from early morning workouts to lifting after work, when the weather is a little milder. This helps you gradually acclimate to the cold, while also giving you more time to think through the logistics.
For instance, when it snows, clearing the section of the driveway where I lift becomes a top priority. (Ideally, I'll let it warm up in the sun a bit as well.) I use an old gray bath towel to dry the mats or my equipment before storing it away to prevent rust.
The days are getting shorter, and it gets dark earlier. Do you have sufficient lighting? If not, a shop light from a hardware store is a solid option if your house lights don’t illuminate the right spots. (Someone once asked if my lifting videos were filmed under the headlights of my car. They weren’t, but that’s actually a pretty clever idea.)
Lastly, you need to remain adaptable. I check the weather at the start of the week to plan which lifts to do on which days. If the conditions are too extreme, I can take some exercises indoors and push the others to another day. On some occasions, our advice on making the most of limited gym time will be useful, even when your gym is the great outdoors.
