How best to workout in the summer months

Summer is a lovely time to workout – but there are also challenges. When it’s hot you can feel tired quickly and also get dehydrated. If you have heat stroke or exhaustion then this will make it hard to hit fitness goals. So, what is the best way to workout in the summer and make sure you avoid this – and also enjoy it?

• Drink lots of water. And if you’re going to be exercising for an hour or more then drink sports drinks too. The right sports drinks contain electrolytes and potassium that will help your body to recover from your workout. They can be especially important if you are working out on a hot day.
• Have a cold shower. If you do this before your workout then you start with a cooler body. You can also wet your hair and leave it wet, as this will help your head to stay cool.
• Pick the right workout clothes. Black doesn’t reflect sunlight so workout clothes in this colour can actually make you feel hotter. Instead, opt for bright coloured clothes that will reflect the sun. Bright colours will also mean you are more easily seen, which can be important if you are running alongside traffic, for example. Choose fabrics that are light and which will let your body breathe, such as cotton. You can also buy sweat wicking fabrics that will help remove the sweat from your skin.
• Protect your skin. Make sure that you wear plenty of high factor sunscreen when you are outside working out in the summer. Factor 50 should be your minimum. You will need to either buy a waterproof sunscreen or keep reapplying, as it will come off when you start sweating.
• Avoid the hottest hours. In the summer it makes sense to use cooler parts of the day for your workout. If you want to make sure you do this then avoid the hours of 10am – 3pm. Many people – including professional athletes – choose to workout in the morning in the summer. This is a great time because temperatures are lower and there is lots of shade. It will also help you to have lots of energy during the rest of the day and can even make it easier to sleep.
• Try a water-based workout. As water cools us down, why not workout in the water in the summer? Swimming, surfing and paddleboarding are all great exercises. If you’re a runner then try making use of rainy summer days for your workout. Just make sure you have the right clothes to be seen in the rain.
• Go inside if you need to. It’s very important to listen to your body when it’s hot. If you feel like you want to workout in an air conditioned space then do that. You also need to have a good awareness of your body and make sure you don’t push yourself too hard. If you feel dizzy or sick, for example, then stop.

Working out in the summer can be fun and really good for you – these are our tips on how best to do it. Keep track of your fitness by downloading the MyLife365.Me app today…