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n warm weather, most of us
give little thought to what
we wear to exercise. A sim-
ple T-shirt, a pair of shorts
and some sneakers and
we're out the door.
Winter, of course, is a
whole different ballgame.
Those lucky enough to
live in a climate such asF,
southern California or Flor-
ida, where temperatures
rarely drop below 50 de-
grees, don't have much to
worry about. But for the
rest of us, winter can present a
unique set of challenges.
Exercising dirng the cold-
weather months uires more
than donning an extra sweat shirt
or jacket. The key, experts say, is
to layer, preferably using clothing
made of synthetic fibers, such as
Sanchilla or Polartec, which not
only provide good insulation but
keep moisture away from the skin.
Stay away from cotton and silk,
which tend to get soaked quickly
and retain moisture.
The number of layers you'll
need depends on4h011iinate. In
colder regions, stat.401 long un-
derwear made offtropylene or
similar lightweight t.olyester and
add a synthetic fleece garment fol-
lowed by a breathable water- and
wind-resistant windbreaker or
rain jacket.
"Outdoor workouts in the win-
ter mean exposure to cooler tem-
peratures, so layering your attire
is a smart idea," says Melissa
Zaniboni, a spokeswoman for
Marshalls. "Layering T-shirts,
sweat shirts and warm-up jack-
ets allows you to add or remove
Elizabeth Scheibner is a writer for
the Copley News Service.
layers quickly and easily as your
workout heats up or cools down:'
For activities that involve con--
stant movement, such as running
or cross-country skiing, experts
suggest clothing that fits close to
the body and doesn't interfere
with your range of motion.
Workout clothes made of Lycra
or *index, for instance, provide
good insulation without restrict-
ing -mOvement. Loose-fitting
clothes such as sweat shirts and
sweat pants are better suited for
sports like tennis, basketball and
hiking.
Because hands get chapped eas-
ily during the dry winter months,
it's important not only to keep
Dressing properly
makes winter
workouts safe and
comfortable.
them warm,but to protect them
from the elements. A good pair of
mittens will keep hands warm
and toasty.
Protbcting your head is also im-
portant. Because heat loss from
the head Ao neck may account
for as iit)was 50 percent of to-
tal heat loss, experts suggest
wearing a hat that covers your