1-minute health tip
When planning your summer exercise schedule, look at the temperature and humidity before you head outside. If it’s too hot, and the humidity level is high, your body won’t be effective at cooling you down. For those extra hot days, have a backup plan for an inside workout.
5-minute health tip
Planning ahead is particularly important during the summer, especially when it comes to staying hydrated. During summer workouts, make sure you have plenty of fluids, as dehydration is a key factor in heat illnesses.
15-minute health tip
If you’re going to workout while it’s hot, it’s important to dress appropriately. Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing that allows sweat to evaporate and keeps you cooler. And avoid dark colors, because they absorb heat and won’t allow you to cool off as quickly.
30-minute health tip
If you’ve spent most of your time working out inside in an air-conditioned gym or outside in cooler weather, you’ll need to pay special attention to your body when you start working out outside. It takes one to two weeks for your body to get used to the heat outside, so start slowly, and gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts.
This article first appeared in the July 2015 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.
