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!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement( iframe );t.display= none ,t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement( script );c.src= //cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js ,c.setAttribute( async , 1 ),c.setAttribute( type , text/javascript ),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb ;cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({ playerId : 8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb , mediaId : 62bd02dc-3365-468f-b642-1854a4613f20 }).render( 690e0664e4b0063dd27d959a );});Who was summertime me? I don’t recognise that running, strength-training, “Japanese walking” powerhouse – winter me is an immobile hermit. I know, I know, staying active in the colder months is great for your health.But I just can’t bring myself to work out often now that the clocks have gone back. The motivation simply won’t kick in. If that sounds like you, though, some reassuring (or depressing, depending on your mindset) news: you’re not alone. There is real science behind your cold-weather sluggishness.No wonder we tend to spend more time staying still in the final season of the year.Why is it so much harder to exercise in winter?If you are a member of the many people affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), your motivation to head to the gym may be shot.A paper suggested that vitamin D may potentially increase athletic performance, though more research is needed. Many of us lack the vitamin, linked to bone, muscle, and tooth health, in the darker months, the NHS said.Some research conducted on military service members suggested that “The combination of cold temperatures with other environmental stressors, including altitude, wind, and wet environments, exacerbates the overall metabolic strain on military service members.” In other words, it just takes more out of you to work out when it’s chilly out.Another paper found that people who stood outside in the cold before attempting cycling saw a decrease in performance of 30%.Your muscles might not work as well in the cold, either (in fact, they can tense up so much in response to cool weather that it may increase your risk of injury).Want to warm them up ahead of your training session? Fine – but that might take you more energy, too.More great news: once you’ve completed a chilly session, your hormones may make you hungrier than you would have been if you’d exercised in warmer weather.How can I motivate myself to work out in winter? BBC Sports recommends reframing sport as “me time,” working out with others, wrapping up warm, changing your routine to an indoor one, and rewarding yourself when you do get active.PureGym says that sticking to a routine and seeing exercise as a way to get sunlight – which can help you regulate your sleep, especially after the clock change – may help too.Even committing to a quick burst of activity on your lunch break can be useful, experts told TODAY.Related...Wake Up At 3AM And Can t Get Back To Sleep? You Might Have This ConditionI Tried The 6-6-6 Walking Challenge, And It Got Me Out Of An Exercise RutThe Best Exercise To Stay Flexible, By Age

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