Winter is coming! The days are shortening, the mornings are darker, and there isn’t much day light to do your normal outdoor activities. So now you’re left doing them in the cold, dark weather. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with that if you are still getting the job done.

Some people prefer to work in the cold. Some believe that you achieve your best results in the cold. Wait, what? Achieving your best results in the cold? Wow! I didn’t want to believe it when I first heard it, but I was informed about it first-hand. I actually had a client that demanded to train outside when it was thirty-five degrees!

She informed me that she had heard exercising in the cold induces greater weight loss. Of course, I asked her how and she continued to tell me that in the cold, the cells in the body are more active causing more calories to be burned. I knew she was talking about thermogenesis, but I wanted to see if there was new research on that theory. So here’s the truth on cold weather exercising and thermogenesis.

Thermogenesis is just a fancy word for heat production that is a by-product of chemical reactions in the human body. It occurs during digestion of food or when the body is too cold or hot. Since energy is being used during this process calories are being burned.

Now if you apply this concept to exercising you would expect to burn more calories in cold weather than you would if you were exercising at room temperature, right? Initially you would, but what do you suspect happens once your body reaches homeostasis (normal body temperature)?

Well let’s just say you’re no better off in the cold. Once your body reaches 98.7° there is no need to increase body temperature and since there is no need to increase body temperature you will not be burning those extra calories. Furthermore, since your body temperature will be beyond 98.7°, assuming you’re doing good cardio work, it will be a while until your body goes back into the thermogenesis phase. Basically waiting around is not going to do you any good.

Thermogenesis has been an up and coming trend in losing weight and if you haven’t heard it, you will hear about it soon. It’s a good concept, but I have to say there is no substitute for a room temperature gym. You will be able to warm-up quicker, less prone, and you won’t be cold and miserable.

The best situation for thermogenesis is if you are walking and you don’t elevate your body temperature. With that included, I’d have to give the thermogenesis theory two thumbs down. Besides, I guarantee that any person would burn more calories running in 80 degree weather than running during a blizzard! Wouldn’t you?

-Phil