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You don't have to take your workout indoors just because the temperatures are cold.

Exercising in colder weather has physical and emotional benefits.

Summer's warm temps can make you more tired, faster. Cold weather, on the other hand, "stimulates your senses, tunes you in to your surroundings," fitness consultant Sean Burch tells Women's Health Mag. "It makes you feel alive."

Doctors verify there's a medical reason behind those mood-lifting endorphins.

"Because your body has to work harder in the cold, your endorphin production is boosted even more, leading to a happier state of mind," Kevin Plancher, a New York M.D., tells Women's Health Mag.

Research also shows people generally race faster in cooler weather - and most exercisers know kicking their speed up a notch means burning more calories. Another fantastic reason to grab your gloves, throw on an extra layer, and find the nearest trail.