Summer is when I love to be active outdoors more than any other season. How about you? I thought I’d give a little reminder of a very important consideration as you enjoy the outdoors for your physically active lifestyle.
Staying hydrated and staying cool to help prevent dehydration is very important in the heat of summer especially when exercising outdoors.
Why?
To prevent heat illnesses such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
To improve results of event performance in activities such a 5 or 10 K’s among many others, but also in work performance and other areas of your life.
To replenish what you lose in sweat.
Drinking water and staying hydrated can also help prevent over eating and help you to release weight.
Here are some tips to stay hydrated and stay cool.
- Exercise when it’s cooler such as first thing in the morning.
- Wear a hat.
- Wear light colors.
- Where breathable shirts, shorts, hat, and socks too!
- Always carry water and consume often in exercise and beyond.
- drink 1 – 2 cups at least 30 minutes prior to exercise
- aim for 1/2 to 1 cup for every 15 minutes of exercise
- Drink water instead of processed drinks. Add a lemon wedge or some similar.
- Beware of drinking your calories through added sugar or fat.
- Beware of artificial sweeteners. Natural, whole food is still the best bet.
- Freeze the water in the bottle the night before on really hot days.
- Stash water bottles on longer bouts so you don’t run out or plan your course to access fountains to refill your bottle.
- Train your taste buds with gradual dilution to enjoy and embrace the value of water.
Remember being thirsty is likely a sign you are already dehydrated. Consciously choose to consume water rather than waiting until feeling thirsty reminds you.
Use the summer to set a new normal of staying hydrated that you can carry through all year long.
Remember…
“Life is meant to be embraced, enjoyed and fully lived, not merely endured!
To your health,
Brent
Be an advocate of Thriving Health. Forward this to anyone you feel would appreciate receiving this message. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it.
Beginning with a degree in exercise science and kinesiology, Brent Haydey has evolved over thirty years as an entrepreneur; building four businesses, and as a health, executive, and life coach.