Summer Workouts Require Adjustments For Heat

Fitness buffs are familiar with the difficulties summer can pose when working out. As temperatures rise, it can be difficult to maintain a workout routine. However, experts advise the best way to deal with the heat is to reduce the impact of your exercise routine and give yourself time to acclimate to it. Researchers from the American Council on Exercise report that the average, healthy individual needs 10-14 days to fully acclimate to exercising in increased temperatures. They advise that the only way to do that is to embrace the heat and continue to exercise. After your body has adjusted to the new temperatures, individuals sweat sooner, have a lower core temperature and heart rate response, and are at a reduced risk for dehydration. Experts caution that during the acclimation period, it's important to adjust the strenuousness of your workouts and be aware of the increased risks. But, while approximately 25 percent of individuals report being heat-intolerant when the season begins, that number drops to 2 percent after the acclimation period, according to experts. Unfortunately, the increased tolerance to heat is easy to lose. Experts estimate that for every two days you fail to exercise in the heat, one day of acclimation is lost, thus after a two week break, you are back at square one with the acclimation process.