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Summer Fitness
The Heat Is On: 6 Tips for Summer Exercise
Summer's the time to flee the gym, but high temps make workouts tougher and more dangerous. These athlete-tested tricks will help you breeze through them
By
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How to Beat the Heat
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1
Dial It Down
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2
Weather Alert
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3
Drink Up
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4
Chill Out
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5
Stay Cool-headed
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6
Shield Your Skin
How to Beat the Heat
Image: Thinkstock
Few people know the perks of summertime workouts (Search: best summertime workouts) better than two-time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor, 34, and Kerri Walsh, 33. The volleyball hotshots run sprints and practice their bumps and spikes on the beach, where they get a great workout plus all the science-backed benefits of exercising outdoors: increased energy, improved mood, and reduced tension.
When temps are really sizzling, though, outdoor workouts can make you fizzle. In hot weather, your heart not only pumps blood to your working muscles but also sends blood to your skin so your body can release internal heat into the environment and help cool itself. This double duty puts added stress on your cardiovascular system, says Lawrence Armstrong, Ph.D., lead author of the American College of Sports Medicine's position statement on heat and exercise. Staying in that state too long increases your risk for dehydration and dangerous heat-related illnesses.
Even pro athletes aren't willing to take risks. "When I was younger, I thought I'd look weak if I took breaks or got an ice towel," says Walsh. "But I realize now that taking precautions is just being smart and setting yourself up for success." Talk about success: Walsh and May-Treanor crushed the competition in their initial two Olympic Games, becoming the first two-time gold-medal champs in their sport. As the pair preps for a three-peat in London, they'll once again look to stay cool under pressure. Use their strategies—as well as tips from other experts and top athletes—to beat the heat during your summer workouts.
Get tight, toned and sexy in half the time with the Women's Health 15-Minute Belly, Butt & Thighs Workouts DVD.
When temps are really sizzling, though, outdoor workouts can make you fizzle. In hot weather, your heart not only pumps blood to your working muscles but also sends blood to your skin so your body can release internal heat into the environment and help cool itself. This double duty puts added stress on your cardiovascular system, says Lawrence Armstrong, Ph.D., lead author of the American College of Sports Medicine's position statement on heat and exercise. Staying in that state too long increases your risk for dehydration and dangerous heat-related illnesses.
Even pro athletes aren't willing to take risks. "When I was younger, I thought I'd look weak if I took breaks or got an ice towel," says Walsh. "But I realize now that taking precautions is just being smart and setting yourself up for success." Talk about success: Walsh and May-Treanor crushed the competition in their initial two Olympic Games, becoming the first two-time gold-medal champs in their sport. As the pair preps for a three-peat in London, they'll once again look to stay cool under pressure. Use their strategies—as well as tips from other experts and top athletes—to beat the heat during your summer workouts.
Get tight, toned and sexy in half the time with the Women's Health 15-Minute Belly, Butt & Thighs Workouts DVD.
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