5 Important Things to Avoid When Working out in the Heat

With the summer in full swing, many of us are finding it difficult to work out with the added annoyance of the blazing sun. We sweat more, we have to drink more, our clothes get soaked, and we might even need to change up our workout routines in order to cope with the incredibly hot conditions. Unfortunately, unless you want to move to a different country just to workout during this period, you’ve got to find ways around the heat and deal with it in order to keep your body image looking perfect. So to help you out, here are a few of things to avoid when exercising in the heat.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen

If you’re going to work out in the sun, make sure you’re applying sunscreen. It might take a bit of getting used to and you might feel like it adds some unnecessary time to your workout, but if you’re exposed to the sun for a long time then this is an absolute must to protect your skin from UV rays.

Don’t wait to drink water

Drinking water is obviously important, but it’s even more of an issue during the summer because you have to drink even more. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water and don’t forget to chill your water before you sip at it. The colder the water temperature, the better it will be at lowering your overall body temperature and the cooler you will feel during your workouts. Since you’re also sweating more, it’s important to continue replenishing your body’s water levels by drinking more as well.

Don’t wear the same clothes you did during Spring

Wearing the correct gym apparel is important if you want to maintain a lower enough body temperature to make working out in the heat bearable. Don’t wear anything cotton because it’s not very breathable. Synthetic materials are usually the best because they assist in cooling your body even during the most intense workouts. It’s a good idea to have apparel for all seasons so that you’re always prepared no matter the weather condition.

Don’t neglect the importance of body temperature

As mentioned briefly before, your body temperature is incredibly important when it comes to working out in the summer. The best strategy is to lower your body temperature before you actually start working out. This means it’ll take a little longer for your body to heat up and reach an uncomfortable level. Roughly 10 to 15 minutes before your workout, take a cold shower, splash some water on your face, or run your wrists under a cold tap for a couple of seconds. This will cool down the blood that’s flowing through your body and help you maintain a lower temperature as you work out.

Don’t stick with the same routine

If you don’t want to be in the sun during your workout, then hit the gym a little more. You could switch to indoor cardio such as the treadmill or elliptical instead of running around outside, and you could switch your bike path so that it’s shielded by trees. You could also do your outdoor cardio a little earlier in the morning when the sun isn’t as high.