5 Marvelous Ways To Beat The Winter Chill

Shivering is your body's signal to you that you need to get somewhere warm. In a heartbeat. Your body shivers because it's trying to tell you that your muscles aren't contracting anymore, thereby ensuring your blood flow is decreasing.

This is bad news.

Luckily, there are a few handy and fun ways to maximize the joys of beating the winter chill. Let's take a look!

1. Throw A Party

No, not that kind of party. Well, you can if you feel like it. But I mean a dinner party that involves a lot of baking. Baking when it's cold out is a common trick (such as baking bread). But if you're baking a lot of food for a dinner party (say, a casserole, followed by meat-loaf, etc.) you're going to get a lot more mileage out of the oven's heat.

An added bonus to this trick is good-ol' science: The more people that are around you, the more you get to bask in the joys of their body warmth. This makes your home much cozier and warm.

An even bigger bonus to throwing a party is this: Being able to show off your brand-new curtains! A lot of people swear by hanging up thicker, denser curtains (like wool-cotton) on their windows to block out the cold. Just find some curtains that match your interior décor, hang them up, and presto! Instant serenity that doubles in its value.

2. Dance

Like the Lady Gaga song says, 'Just dance… Gonna be okay…' You'll warm yourself up (and anybody with you) in no time if you pick a funky groove, and get your shake on. (Am I nerdy or what?)

Picking an up-tempo rock (or pop hit) song that you can move your feet to gets your heart up. Everybody knows that increasing your heart-rate is how you keep your heart healthy and young. It's a good way to 'take your breath away' and start breaking a sweat.

You could just as easily work out, with something as simple as jumping jacks or burpees! But I personally find dancing to be a lot less of a chore than working out. (Which says a lot about me, but hey… Who doesn't like having fun?)

Now everybody's personal dance songs differ, but I'd like to share with you some songs that never fail to 'help you get up off your feet, and you'll feel better.' (James Brown ftw!)

You can find all these songs on YouTube:

1. Coldplay – Charlie Brown
2. White Stripes – Hotel Yorba, Black Math, Fell In Love With A Girl, Forever For Her (Is Over For Me), The Air Near My Fingers, Effect And Cause. (There's a lot more, but we'll be here all day – I LOVE The White Stripes)
3. The Kinks – People Take Pictures, Johnny Thunder, Big Sky
4. Foster The People – Houdini, Pumped Up Kicks
5. Cheap Trick – Surrender
6. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

Those are just a few musical prompts you can load up on YouTube and help you work the floor to dance Winter's chill away.

3. The Wonders Of A Scalding-Hot Bath

After a strenuous workout, a lot of professional athletes soak in a scorching-hot bath for half an hour. This is because hot water 'stretches out' muscles and nerves, preventing inflammation and fluid build-up in limbs.

(I do a round of HIIT each week and, trust me, I've seriously regretted the sessions I cut out the hot bath recovery in an effort to save time. It is THAT vital towards keeping your limbs as fresh and relaxed as they can be.)

Immersing yourself in a hot bath, even if you hardly work out, can feel like heaven.

Hot water naturally relaxes the body – this much we know already. That's why so many overworked, grunting people look forward to a hot bath and glass of wine at the end of a hard day. Every one of us needs that type of peace of mind, right?

Plus, studies have shown diabetics who soak in a hot tub or hot bath every day reduce their sugar and glucose levels! This is incredible news that has many advantages for thousands of diabetics everywhere.

If that weren't awesome enough, hot baths even help you lose weight. People discovered that soaking in hot baths for half an hour each day of the week helped them shed almost 2 ½ lbs. in one month. (So, if you're already working the circuits, CrossFit, or HIIT rounds – which significantly burn up enough calories – by soaking in a hot bath you're turning your metabolism into a fat-burning machine!)

However, because your body temperature raises and your body will dehydrate, it is highly recommended that you take a glass of cold water with you. Staying hydrated during the day is important, and not just because it gets oxygen to your cells, lubricates your joints, and cleanses toxins from your body.

With all the benefits we know about a hot bath, it's time to tackle something that's FUN. Something that's amazing (and relaxing) when it comes to hot water…

4. Hot Hot Tubs

You should know, right off the bat, that two-person hot tubs will usually set you back $1500-3000, for starters. For models that seat 5-7 people, you're looking at $3000-8000. So, these babies are not for the faint of heart, or weekend hobbyists who are game for a soak every now and then. Even building an extra wooden deck to house the tub can set you back $500+, for starters.

Hot tubs are a lot better than hot baths and even more relaxing. They are for serious people who are serious about treating their many aches, pains, and physical disorders.

If money is no problem for you, then hot tubs are a GREAT investment. Everyone I know wants a hot tub – and we're all secretly jealous of people who do have one.

5. Make Love (Adults Only)

Sweet, unbridled passion with your loved one. Is there anything better? I can't think of any, especially during the winter. This isn't a time to blush or feel embarrassed, as rolling around in the covers and exploring your lover's body is one of the best ways to warm up. (Obviously!)

There's a two-fold light of enjoyment here, too. Once you've successfully heated each other up, turning each other into a sweaty mess, sleep is right around the corner. Falling into the arms of another is a serenity few people savor.

Which doesn't make sense, since falling asleep lowers your body temperature. Scientifically-speaking, your lowered body temperature will combat the cold. (Plus you won't actually be awake to feel the cold.)

Conclusion

And there we have it! 5 ways to make sure the winter freeze stays out of your home.

These are just a few ways to keep yourself from being beaten by the cold. Do you have any other suggestions?