#HealthySummerWithActivLiving: 4 Do’s And Don’ts To Keep In Mind While Exercising In Summer

While the sweltering heat of summer looms over your head, don’t let your diet, fitness, or mental health get pushed to the back burner. Instead, actively participate in the #HealthySummerWithActivLiving campaign to thrive in different circumstances and lead a wholesome lifestyle.

What you need to know:

• Do’s of exercising in summer

• Don’ts of exercising in summer

With the soaring temperatures in summer, the motivation to exercise often wanes as sluggishness creeps in. However, don’t let your fitness goals be stuck in limbo. Instead, seize the day and strategically plan your workout routine.

It is tough to exercise in high temperatures as it can affect your metabolism and physiology. Whether you are a beginner or a fitness enthusiast, following a specific set of do’s and don’ts while exercising in the summer season is advisable.

Do’s of exercising in summer:

• Be an early riser: While you can work out any time of the day, the best time to exercise is early mornings from 6 to 8 a.m. You can make the most of your early morning sweat session. Direct rays of the sun from 10 to 2 p.m. can cause heat exhaustion, heatstroke, sunburns, and dehydration. Although the sun’s rays are not so bright in the afternoon, exercising at that time can still feel hot as many areas retain heat.

• Exercise in the shade: Instead of exposing yourself to sunlight, which can drain your energy, exercise in the shade or at home. You can create a mini gym at home with strength-training equipment and convert your jogging or running into an effective treadmill workout.

• Light clothing: Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose, and comfortable clothes, which can enable your skin to breathe and allow you to stretch and exercise. Dark-colored clothes absorb more heat. This can make you feel weary and dehydrated and impede your body’s ability to cool down. 

• Hydrate plenty: As you sweat more during summers, your body needs adequate water intake for proper functioning. Do drink more water after your workout to prevent the aftermath of heat in the form of nausea, vomiting, dehydration, or kidney failure.

Don’ts of exercising in summer:

• Don’t miss out on warm-ups or cool down: Exercising is as important to your health as stretching is to your body. Your temperature rises while doing physical activity and it is equally essential to lower your core temperature at the end of your fitness session. Therefore, do not underestimate the power of warming up and cooling down before and after your workout. 

• Don’t exert yourself: Listen to your body’s needs. If you feel your mouth going dry, dizzy, lightheaded, muscle cramps, or chest tightening, stop exercising immediately. Do not push yourself to the brink of exhaustion. Drink water and take a break between exercises and sets. Do consult your doctor or dietician for expert advice.

• Don’t eat protein before working out: Protein is a complicated and heavy nutrient for your body to break down while you exercise. Therefore, it is not advisable to eat protein before your workout. Although lean protein is an excellent source of energy, it can raise your basal temperature if consumed before a workout. Instead, include protein-rich foods in your diet after your workout, which will help rebuild worn-out muscle tissues.

• Don’t be inconsistent: Try to beat the heat by exercising regularly. Circumvent your way around peak summer days to exercise and reap the many health benefits correlated to it.

Find the different ways to cope with the extreme summer heat by tuning into the #HealthySummerWithActivLiving campaign.

Get more information on nutrition and mindfulness by being an active participant in the Activ Living Community.