Wellness Wednesday :: Tips for Exercising in the Heat

Boy oh boy has it been hot lately! Like why-do-I-bother-to-straighten-my-hair hot.  We’ve had a series of 100-degree days in a row and I know we’re not the only ones suffering in this heat wave.* But I guess when it’s in the thick of summer and you live in the middle of North Carolina, it’s to be expected. I just better not see this hot weather continue in a couple of months. (October, I’m looking at you.)

But even though it’s sweltering hot, I’ve still tried to workout on a regular basis (you know, to counteract all of the summer ice cream, barbecue and burgers I’ve been eating lately). Here are some tips for beating the heat when you still want to get a good workout, but not pass out at the end of it:

• Stay hydrated! Continually drink water before, during and after your workout. I have a 24-oz tumbler that I refill probably five times throughout the day. (This also means I’m constantly running to and from the bathroom.:)

• Only workout in the early morning. I made the mistake of running at 10 am on a Saturday, and already the temperatures were in the 90s. It’s best to workout before 7 or 8 if you’re going to exercise outside.

• Now’s the time to dust off that gym membership and workout indoors. Or if you don’t have one, test out a facility for a day. They usually have free access passes for first-time visitors.

• Wear light-colored, loose absorbent clothing. Not cotton!

• When you’re feeling lightheaded or extra tired, take a break.

• Alter your workout. If you are usually a runner outside, change it up. Go swimming, do yoga, watch a workout video at home, go for a bike ride and enjoy the (hot) wind on your face as you breeze up and down hills. Or if you aren’t up for a strenuous cardio exercise, go shopping and walk laps in your mall, or simply do sit-ups and push-ups in your living room. Better than nothing, eh?

Has it been unbearably hot where you are this summer? What tips have you found helpful to beat the heat this summer while staying active?

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*PS – Speaking of record-breaking highs, Grandfather Mountain saw an all-time temperature high a few Saturdays ago. It was a whopping 84-degrees. Have I mentioned before how divine summers are in the NC mountains?