Seasonal Suggestions

I just froze to death walking to class.

Ok, yes, maybe I do deserve a Nobel Prize for noticing that it does get colder in November. I’m a genius, I know. As the seasons transition from pretty fall to the holiday-filled winter, we're stuck in this cold, snowless, ugly, gray, pre-winter, post-fall weather. My few suggestions to keep healthy in the cold:

- A HAT. You lose most of your body heat through your head; a hat is essential to staying warm, especially on windy days.

- A WINDBREAKER. You can layer on the sweatshirt and coats, but unless they protect you from the wind, you’re still going to freeze. A windbreaker is a good investment that will go a long way to keeping you warm on those walks to class.

- THERMAL PANTS. I recommend Underarmor spandex leggings. Most people pile on sweatshirt, gloves, hats, and scarves on their upper body, but then stroll to class in just jeans to protect their legs from the cold. Last year I discovered that spandex leggings under my jeans provided extra warmth without looking ridiculous.

- ALTER WORKOUT HABITS. This really applies to those who work out outside, by playing basketball, running, or such. But here’s a shocker: it does get colder as the sun sets, which is evidently around 6:30pm-ish nowadays. Cold weather is fun, but working out hard in it on a regular basis is BAD. Labored breathing in open cold weather scrapes your throat and lungs, which is why most cases of sports-induced asthma are developed in the winter. So start working out inside some more, lift weights instead of playing ball, workout earlier when its warmer, etc.