Summer is in full swing and that means beautiful summer days and plenty of outdoor activities. But that also means dealing with the powerful sun and humidity, which can be potentially dangerous. Trying to exercise in these conditions can be difficult but here are five tips to help you beat the heat this summer and keep you geared towards your fitness goals.
1) Stay hydrated
This point could potentially be listed as items one through five on this list. Becoming dehydrated is always a cause for concern but this becomes even more prevalent during the summer months, when heat exhaustion can come on quickly and ferociously. Make sure to drink beyond the typical eight glasses of water per day and keep those electrolytes up.
2) Dress for success
Attire is important during the summer months. Wear loose fitting, brightly colored and sweat wicking clothing. Sweat wicking clothing will help pull moisture away from your body, cooling you down in the process.
3) Timing, Timing, Timing
Timing is everything here. No matter what precautions you take there are certain temperatures where it just isn’t safe to exercise outdoors. The middle of the day offers more sun and higher humidity, which can leave you in harms way. Try working out in the morning or evening to minimize these risks and stay on top of your local weather report.
4) Head indoors
As I mentioned earlier there are just some days and times where it isn’t safe to exercise outdoors. If you can’t tailor your workout schedule to the weather, don’t take the risk and move your workout indoors.
5) Know your limits
When exercising in more extreme weather conditions it’s important that you tailor your output accordingly. Keep checking your heart rate and make sure you are not over exerting yourself. It’s also important that you know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and listen to what your body is telling you. Trying to power through any of the following symptoms could lead to something much more serious.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Rapid heartbeat
The summer is a great time to be active and is a welcomed break from the cold winter months stuck indoors. But heat and humidity bring with them a number of different risks. Follow these five tips this summer so that you can beat the heat and keep reaching your fitness goals.
Written by Josh Skrupskas
