Weekly Tips for Your Peak Fitness and Wellness

This Week's Tip: Dress Smart, Stay Warm

The difference between a good workout and a miserable one could be what you put on before you go out. Think layers. First, pull on light, snug-fitting garments made of polypropylene or other synthetic fibers to wick sweat away from your skin so you stay dry. (Avoid cotton, which stays wet.) Next, choose thermals or micro fleece, which further wick moisture but also provide warmth by trapping the heat generated by your exercising body. Finally, wear a nylon wind jacket or breathable (meaning it lets sweat escape but doesn’t let moisture in), waterproof Gore-Tex as your outer layer to protect you from the elements and keep out the cold.

Don’t forget the hat (40 percent of your heat is lost through your head), gloves (mittens will keep your hands even warmer), and SmartWool or nylon socks. You may also need to protect your lips and face from windburn by wearing chap stick and a thin coat of petroleum jelly.