(Chelsea Update would like to thank Nicole Tweedie, group exercise coordinator for the Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester and Stockbridge Wellness Centers for the information in this story.)
As temperatures exceed 90 degrees this week, it is apparent that summer is here in Michigan.
While warm weather can be motivating to some avid fitness enthusiasts, it can also be very high-risk and detrimental to others. Even though our center is air conditioned, the humidity does increase inside the center. Many of our members workout both indoors and outside, and we would like to remind you of these critical points when working out during hot conditions, either indoors or outdoors.
- Avoid exercising outside between the hours of 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. during hot summer months. This is when the sun’s rays are the most intense and the heat index is the highest.
- Wear light, moisture wicking, breathable fabrics rather than heavy cotton or materials that retain heat and moisture.
- Ensure hat you “pre-hydrate” during the hours leading up to your workout, hydrate during your workout, and afterward.
- The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking 1.5 – 4 cups of a carbohydrate based sports drink to replace electrolytes that are lost during any intense workout that lasts longer than one hour.
- Listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or light-headed, back off your workout intensity or take a break all together.
- The risk of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and muscle cramping is significant during this time of year. Know the warning signs. Pushing ignorantly through a workout is not worth the risk. Exercise safely.
If you love to exercise outside but the risk to benefit is greater, take a look at our class schedule and come join us in our studio this summer.
We have plenty of aerobic and strength conditioning classes to keep you in shape and motivated during this heat.
