Workout Tips For Summer Heat

With the heat wave that currently rampages across the US and Canada, it’s especially important to take some precautions when trying to stay fit. Here is how to manage doing your workouts while surviving summer heat.

Heat Management

Summer is here, and all I want to do is store my self in a fridge while snacking on ice.  Since I work out at home, the most frequent question I’m asked is: how do I manage to work out in this crazy heat? Sometimes I wonder the same thing. Maybe I should have a medal by now, because here in Florida’s humidity it’s really challenging.

Which is why I always recommend to start getting in shape in winter time, so that when summer comes you just have to maintain the results. But heah, it wouldn’t feel quite right to do nothing from May to September, would it?

I personally use a few tricks to keep my self cool during training, because it’s dangerous to workout in high temperature and it’s very uncomfortable.  I would like to share a few things that I do to help me somewhat not to lose my cool.

Ice Packs & Ice Water

Before every workout I make sure to prepare a huge glass of iced water and a huge plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel to cool myself with between rounds.  This really helps to keep the temperature down, because while you are wiping the sweat off your face, you are cooling at the same time.

Where was my towel?

When I do my videos, you never see these bits and everything looks really pretty, but that is thanks to the help of editing. In between rounds there is nothing pretty about it – I literally crawl to my ice pack towel while looking like I just got hit by a bus.

Wear Clothes That Absorb Sweat

This is another really helpful tip.  A lot of people ask me why I don’t wear shorts in my videos, well, that’s because shorts don’t absorb anything and pants do.  That’s why I always wear specially designed clothes when working out in the Summer, these clothes made from a material which not only help you to absorb sweat but also to keep you cool. In that regard I also think it’s best to wear some sports clothes than not wear any at all, which is a mistake a lot of people make in the summer (while working out at home that is). Even clothes that aren’t specifically designed to transport heat will do a better job of it than no clothes at all.

When outside, wearing clothes is especially important.  First of all, they protect you from sunburn. Second, they do the same thing as at home and insulate you from the heat and help ventilation. Why do you think Arabic people wrap themselves in layers of clothes when traveling through hot deserts? And while we are at it: you should wear a hat when outside.

Cut Down On HIIT Workouts

HIIT workouts are great for burning fat, but not very good in hot weather.  When we are doing a HIIT workout, our rest periods are much shorter than during circuit training. Which means we will not have enough time to cool down between rounds.  If you do end up doing a HIIT workout keep it short: 10-15 minutes max.

Avoid Noons

It may be a no-brainer, but it’s not a good idea to work out at noon, when the day is hottest, especially when you do it outside. Instead, go for mornings, before the day’s heat build up again. Evenings are another option, but not as good as mornings, because in the evenings pavement, buildings, sand etc. start to give off the heat they stored during the day.

If It’s Too Hot, It’s Too Hot!

Last but not least, if you have health problems, it’s better to not do a workout on a hot summer day than being reckless about it and still go ahead. It would make no sense to endanger your health with something supposed to make it better.

Or Just An Ice Bubble!

If I could just build an ice bubble where I can live and work out during summer that would be best. For now I will have to stick with the tips above and I hope they help you a bit, too!

Pictures © lovingfit.com.