Well summer is certainly here! As always, summer means high temperatures. This makes exercising outside a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, with a little bit of preparation you won't have to move your workout indoors, unless you want to.
The first thing you need to worry about is getting your body acclimated to the heat. This simply means that your body needs to get used to exercising when it is warm outside. Proper acclimation helps reduce the amount of stress on your heart. All you need to do is gradually increase the amount of time that you are exercising outside. This means that you should start with about 10-15 minutes at a time. Do not start by going for a 10 mile run.
The most important thing you can do is to be properly hydrated. 80% of Americans are dehydrated, at any given moment. The solution to this problem is to drink lots of water before, during, and after your workout. Water is the best thing to drink, for most people. If you are exercising for more than 60 minutes, you may want to use a sports drink. Staying hydrated will boost your performance and greatly reduce your risk of heat stroke.
Finally, use common sense. If it feels like you are on the surface of the sun, maybe you should stay inside that day. Staying in the gym is not always a bad idea. Of course, you can always exercise first thing in the morning or later in the evening, to avoid the hottest part of the day. Stay hydrated and stay safe!
Jared Carter is the owner of Move Forward Fitness Personal Training. His studio is located at 500 Main St, in downtown Safety Harbor. Contact him with questions or article suggestions at 727-515-5318 or MoveForwardFitness.com.