For people who want to exercise in the summer, the heat can be a huge deterrent. If you're not careful, you could develop a heat-related illness like a heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or excessive dehydration, all of which can seriously derail your fitness goals. We’ve compiled a list of five tips that you should keep in mind to workout on even the hottest of summer days.
1. Hydration
On a hot day, water is your greatest friend for staying hydrated. However, if you plan to exercise for longer than 60 minutes, you might want to consider a sports drink.
Sports drinks are essential when exercising for lengthy periods of time, especially in hot weather, because they include potassium and electrolytes that help your body rehydrate and restore. As salt is a necessary element for a hot day, high levels of sodium intake may actually be beneficial to your health. However, moderation is essential in everything, so it’s best to get in touch with an expert who would guide you to which drink works best for you, and how much sodium you should be consuming as per your body weight.
2. Keep It Cool
You might consider taking a cold shower before starting your workout. After you've finished showering, keep your head wet instead of using a blow dryer to help you keep cool during your workout. For those with long tresses, you can loosely tie it up so that it doesn’t bother you during your workout.
3. Colour And Light
Bright colours are helpful because they reflect the sun and help you stand out from incoming vehicles. Cotton is a lightweight, cost-effective fabric that can keep you dry. If you're prepared to spend a little more, sweat-wicking (keeping the moisture at bay) shirts and shorts will be a great investment.
4. Timing
The warmest part of the day in the summer is between 10 AM and 3 PM. If you're going to exercise outside, aim to do it before or after this time. Many athletes prefer to exercise first thing in the morning since it helps them stay energised all day and sleep better at night.
5. Limitations
Listen to your body and take a rest if you start to feel dizzy, queasy, or weary. It’s preferable to take some time off to relax rather than overdoing your workout, getting sick or injured, and having to stop working out completely. If the summer heat makes your regular high-intensity workout too difficult, divide it up into several smaller workouts throughout the day. This will give your body time to relax and recharge while still allowing you to achieve your fitness and training goals.