Cold Season & the Gym: 5 Ways to Protect Yourself

Summer is officially gone and Autumn is on its way in. When the temperatures start to drop, that’s when you’ll begin to see cold medicine flying off of the store shelves. Unfortunately, the common cold isn’t something that skips a year to let us take a break. It’s in full force every year making your daily life a lot more difficult. One of the easiest ways to catch a cold is when you’re surrounded by those who have one.

If you still soldier on at the gym despite being surrounded by sick people, here are 5 full proof tips to help you avoid catching what everyone else has.

5. Wear a Mask

A common practice in many Asian countries is finally making its way into the mainstream in the West. These face masks are for two purposes: you wear them when you want to avoid getting sick and, more importantly, you wear them when you ARE sick. The latter is to help avoid spreading germs.

Not all of the masks look like something out of a hospital. You can find creatively decorated masks online. Think of it like wearing an Instagram filter.

4. Wipe Down Everything

This is one of the most skipped over practices in the gym. If you want to avoid getting the germs of someone else on you then you need to wipe down the equipment. In a perfect world, everyone would wipe down their own machines after use but that rarely happens. Take the initiative and wipe down each machine, bench, or weight before use.

3. Wash Your Hands

You hear it all the time and you see signs reminding you about it everywhere but how often are you washing your hands properly?

Washing your hands is more than just splashing water on them. As soon as you get into the gym and before you leave, you should be thoroughly washing your hands with warm water and a normal soap. Stay clear of the anti-bacterial stuff if you can help it.

As a general rule, the amount of time you spend washing your hands should be the same amount of time it takes you to sing the Happy Birthday song.

2. Supplement

You can fortify your body before you even step into the gym. One of the best ways to boost your immune system is through supplements and food (which is our number one point). Two great supplements to take during cold season are Vitamin D and ZMA. Take your Vitamin D in the morning and ZMA at night before bed. Both have been shown in a number of studies to enhance your immunity.

1. Eat Super Foods

Nothing works better for your immune system than super foods. These high nutrient foods have the power to support your health in a number of ways. When it comes to cold season, the best way to boost your immune response is to eat the following three super foods on a regular basis:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Garlic
• Raw, local honey

Tell Us What You Think! 

Do you still visit the gym when a seasonal cold has broken out?

How do you keep from getting sick?

Let us know in the comments below!