5 Tips For A Cooler Summer Workout At Home

When the weather is hot the last thing on your mind is to work up a sweat. If your usual cardio routine means going for a run in the scorching heat, then consider taking your fitness regime indoors.

A summer workout needn’t be so daunting if you follow these 5 tips we’ve put together for a cooler workout at home.

1. Find the coolest part of the day

It makes sense to workout when the temperature is at its lowest point during the day. Be flexible with your routine because that could mean working out early in the morning or late in the evening. A general guide is to avoid the times between 10am-3pm. A quick glance at the days weather online will tell you when that will be.

2. Start with a low body temperature

According to Reuters Health a study found that a pre-exercise cool down improves athletes performance in the heat — most likely because it lowers your heart rate as well as core and skin temperatures. Jumping into a cold shower before you workout may not seem such a crazy idea.

3. Choose your workout to match the temperature

Choose cooler low impact cardio activities like using an exercise bike in the garage with the garage door up to catch a breeze. We have a range of exercise bikes that can help you kick start your summer fitness regime at a fraction of the cost of other exercise bikes.

4. Monitor yourself

The hotter you are the harder your body works so keep an eye on your heart rate and make sure you don’t over-do it and get heat exhaustion. Slow yourself down. If you’re used to running on a treadmill for 30 minutes, cut it back to 20 but with quick 30 second bursts every 3-5 minutes. Choose treadmills like the Fuel 12 Treadmill with contact heart rate sensors allowing quick and easy checks to monitor your fitness. It also has up to 12 pre-set programmes to choose from enabling you to cut back if you need to.

5. Stay hydrated

You shouldn’t be drinking just before or just after your workout. If you stay hydrated throughout the day it will help prevent symptoms such as dizziness, stomach cramps and headaches that can often be associated with working out in the heat. Make sure you drink every 15 to 20 minutes and look at replacing lost electrolytes after your workout to avoid muscle cramps.