Summer’s here, and that means one thing: retreating to the AC to avoid the blistering heat. But just because it’s too hot outside to go for a run doesn’t mean you can’t beat the heat and stay active and healthy!
If you’ve ever felt like the heat makes it harder to exercise, know that it isn’t your imagination: the high temperatures can strain your cardiovascular system, including an increased heart rate and reduced blood flow to your muscles. High humidity makes it even worse, as your sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly–which means your body has a harder time cooling itself.
Fortunately, you don’t have to let triple-digit summers keep you from living an active lifestyle. Today, we wanted to share some of our favorite tips for beating the heat in fun, healthy ways.
Stay Active, Stay Cool: Three Summertime Workout Options
1. Hit the Pool
- It’s a classic for a reason. Whether swimming laps or participating in a water aerobics class, you’ll get a great workout and leave feeling cool and refreshed.
2. Follow Along to a Yoga Video
- First of all, you can do these in the air conditioning. Second, a well-designed Yoga practice starts off gently and gradually increases the intensity of your workout, making it a perfect choice when it feels too hot to move.
3. Join a Virtual Fitness Class
- If you like the structure of an in-person fitness class but don’t want to drive through the heat to get to the studio, virtual classes are a great choice. Many of them are even available live, meaning you can get the same interactions you do in person.
Eat Healthy and Avoid the Heat: Three Tips
It can be tempting to order take-out to avoid cooking in the heat, but you don’t have to sacrifice healthy, home-cooked meals to stay cool! Here are three ways you can ensure you make healthy food choices in the worst parts of summer:
1. Choose Hydrating Foods
- Obviously, you want to stay hydrated in summer. Drinking plenty of water is important, but you can supplement it by choosing fruits and veggies with high water content, like cucumbers, melons, or citrus fruits.
2. Prepare No-Cook Meals
- Hot days are perfect for light, fresh meals that don’t require any cooking. Salads, sandwiches, and cold soups like gazpacho are all great choices.
3. Make Healthy, Frozen Treats
- Ice cream, slushies, and popsicles sound good on a hot day, but they aren’t exactly healthy. Try frozen bananas dipped in a little dark chocolate or Greek yogurt mixed with honey and fresh fruit.
Don’t Worry: Fall Will Be Here Before You Know It!
We know how challenging it can be to stay active and healthy in hot weather. Hopefully, these six tips can help you through the worst of it–and you’ll be ready to enjoy the cool weather when it arrives!
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