With June (the unofficial start of summer—yay!) just around the corner and a wave of humidity hitting Boston, I’ve found myself sweating more than usual when I exercise. And it’s only going to get warmer from here. Exercising outside is glorious, refreshing, and meditative, but how do I (and you!) stay safe in that heat and humidity?
First, a note about sweat. Perspiration is your body’s natural cooling system, and it adapts to warmer or cooler weather and strenuous exercise within two to three weeks of changing conditions. For example, regular exercisers’ bodies sweat more efficiently because they are trained to disperse heat quickly. Good encouragement to stick with an exercise routine! However, humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, which means it’s harder for your body to maintain a safe core temperature.
Your stay-safe summer strategy: Exercise in the morning if possible to take advantage of cooler temperatures. Evening is your next best choice. If you have to work out in the middle of the day, stick to shaded paths. On humid days, or if you find yourself sweating excessively, dial back your intensity or work out inside if that’s an option. When you finish, try these tricks to help lower your body temperature: stand in front of a fan or air conditioning vent while you stretch, take as cold a shower as you can stand (or at least run a wet washcloth over your skin, preferably while standing in front of that fan or vent), and drink plenty of ice water to help replenish lost fluids. If you did a particularly strenuous workout, sip a recovery drink like Gatorade or a small glass of chocolate milk to give your muscles the fuel to repair themselves.
Be safe, and enjoy the outdoors this summer!
PS—If the weather drives you inside and you need recommendations for good exercise videos, check out my friend Krissy’s blog reviews at Aeryssports.com.
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