Don’t Sweat It: A Guide to Exercising Outside

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Summer has long been known as an effective season for workouts as the body is able to dispose more fat and that too faster in the form of sweat. However, not many people can understand when to stop the workout. Being exposed to the heat can cause serious issues to your health and well being. And rather than getting healthier, you get weak and end up getting fatter.

According to reports by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive exposure to heat resulted in 8015 deaths in America from 1979-2003. Illnesses like heat exhaustion and even heat stroke occur when our bodies are not able to cool themselves properly. In extreme cases, it can even hurt the brain. Sweating does help in keeping ourselves cool, but now knowing when to stop prevents the sweat from keeping up with the body. In this blog, we shall be talking about how you can maintain your sweating while working out.

Here are 5 tips which will be helpful in achieving the above feat:

1. Plan: Planning for the heat before going out is essential. The easiest way to do this is to plan your workouts in the early morning hours of the day or in the evening or post nightfall. Use paths that are in the shade. Wear breathable, light colored clothes. Nowadays there are moisture-wicking fabrics available that help circulate the air without chafing it. Hats, sunglasses and sport-suited sunscreens are always welcome.
2. Stay hydrated: This point is never enough. Water will forever remain underrated in terms of workouts. The CDC suggests drinking 16-32 oz. of water per hour while exercising is hot conditions. If you are finding it a bit tough, go for flavored drinks or sports drinks. You can simple add a tinge of lime in your water bottle. If you are free of salt-restrictions, add some snacks (like chips and salsa) in your backpack to replenish the sodium that is lost through your sweat.
3. Dress in an appropriate manner: Working out outdoors naturally means wishing farewell to indoor gym’s comfort. And this is what many people find very alluring. However, dressing helps to take care from the heat. If you are working out in the woods, wear a light jacket over your sweat shirt or tank top in order to be fully covered. If you are working out in a park or on a pathway with little shade or no shade at all, wear a hat and don’t forget to use SPF.
4. Know your limits: Working out more than you should never helps. Focus on your workout experience rather than setting personal records. Opt for a smart watch that is able to monitor your heart rate and know the heart rate for your age and other fitness levels. This will let you be within your limits while providing your body its suitable work out requirements.
5. Find a friend or a group of friends:  Working out with a friend or a group of friends can turn out to be the best form of entertainment for anyone. And interaction is also helpful for your mind. So never back out if anyone asks you to join them in exercising together. It’s a lot of fun and time flies by. There are many local exercises groups on Facebook which you can join for free. Ask your trainer. They also know about such groups and will help you connect with them.

Keeping these 5 things in mind will help you have safe healthy exercises outdoors. The environment is all that we need to be healthy and it is upto us to utilize this in a proper manner.

Theresa Perez

Theresa Perez is a seasoned writer for the health industry dedicated to providing fact-based health information. She sources concise facts from authoritative sources to ensure maximum credibility and shares guidelines to lead a healthy lifestyle.