Early summer weather can provide the ultimate motivation to get outside and be active. The sun is shining, nature is in full blossom, and coats and earmuffs are no longer essential. Summer can give people a certain zest for fitness, but sometimes temperatures can turn good intentions into a sweltering mess. Incorporating new habits and precautions into your warm weather workouts can keep you safe, motivated, and cool. TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, offers the following tips to make the most of your summer fitness plans:
1. Fill up on fruit
Water-heavy fruits – like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes – are a great way to boost energy and replenish fluids lost after a workout. Containing more than 80 percent water, these fruits are easily digestible in the summer heat and are a tasty way to keep hydrated and satisfied. Eating them frozen also makes a refreshing summer treat.
2. Reroute for optimal shade
If your usual running, walking, or cycling route makes you an easy target for sun exposure, opt for a shadier course. Road Runners Club of America features running routes around the country on their website, www.rrca.org. Weather.com also offers local parks’ forecasts and a fitness comfort index by the hour – ideal for determining the best time of day to exercise.
3. Incorporate the season into your routine
Make summer chores part of your fitness plan for time-saving and warm weather-friendly exercise. Washing the car, gardening, taking the dog for a walk, and mowing the lawn, are all activities on your to-do list that burn calories as a bonus.
4. Pay attention to your heart rate
The hotter it is, the harder your body has to work – so if you normally run at a 9-minute-mile pace, when the temperature hits 90 degrees, you may find yourself having to slow down to a 10-minute-mile. Using a heart-rate monitor can help ensure that you aren’t pushing yourself too hard, which can lead to heat exhaustion and strokes. Deluxe heart monitors keep track of not only your heart, but also your speed, distance, pace, and calories burned. Models with fewer features can cost as little as $50.
5. Take the path less paved
Walking, running, or cycling on dirt or gravel paths can keep the body significantly cooler than paved paths. Asphalt and concrete tend to radiate heat and reflect the sun’s rays, making you feel hotter. Running near bodies of water also has a noticeable cooling effect.
6. Slow it down without sacrifice
To keep safe without giving up calorie burn, perform your regular cardio routine at a slightly slower pace, and then add in 30-second speed bursts every three to five minutes. You’ll maintain the same benefits and burn even more calories without exerting extreme effort the entire workout.
TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded more than 65 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information. TOPS has about 150,000 members – male and female, age seven and older – in nearly 9,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable at just $28 per year in the U.S. and $32 per year in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.
