Fitness News #63 - Winter Hibernation

Bears seem to do the opposite of what comes natural to us, in that they fatten up over summer and slim down over winter.  However that's a natural process for bears, as over winter they don't eat.  For humans unfortunately it doesn't work that way 

Human Habitation

Historically food was scarcer over winter, one of the strategies humans used over winter was to reduce energy output, it comes naturally to us.  Another is to eat eat eat, which was fine when food was scarce, it was all about survival.

Hibernation in the Concrete Jungle

We live in a world of unlimited food supply and a lack of incidental exercise, but our heads still contain the survival rules of our forefathers.  In summer when the alarm goes off, we can look out the window and say "its a beautiful day", where in winter when the alarm goes off, we often look at the alarm and think  "WTF" and that's because we are trying to conserve energy till later in the morning when it warms up even though the modern hunt consists of walking from the bedroom to the kitchen.

So back to our friend the bear, why is mr bear doing nothing and loosing weight?  I'm doing nothing and gaining weight....  Well you know the answer to that one....

What you should do

1. Realise that your body is going into survival mode, preparing you for the scarcities of winter food shortage, which will only happen if you can't remember where the supermarket is.
2. Keep your summer exercise routine continuous thru winter.  Yeh it can be difficult, but in the long term you will be a winner.
3. Don't let the good eating slip off the rails.  It can be tempting to switch to the easy options like takeaway.  Just think how much work will be involved to burn that junk off.

What if you did nothing

Remember how good you feel after a workout, well your going to miss that.  Add to that the reversal of what you have achieved.  Do you really want to do nothing?

See you at the gym

Classes

Fitness First 

Rockdale Mon 6.00am Ride
Five Dock Mon 5.45pm RPM
Rockdale Tue 6.30pm RPM
Top Ryde Wed 5.45pm Ride

Walker St Thu 6.00am RPM

Rockdale HiPf Sat 8.15am RPM

 

YMCA

Riverwood Mon 7.30pm RPM
Riverwood Tue 6.15am RPM

SCG

Stadium Fitness Centre Friday 6.15am RPM

Sleep Ride Eat Repeat