If you can’t stand the heat…No need to leave the kitchen
‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’, Harry Truman wasn’t lucky enough to read this blog before saying that, but you are.
Like many things, heat is a stress on the body. And like many stresses that the body faces, it figures out how to overcome that stress and adapts accordingly.
When training in the heat – whether that is in the gym, running, cycling or any sport, we sweat more. And although this might seem like just an unpleasant and annoying side effect of training, there is a very good reason for it.
Sweating is the body’s built-in cooling system and it’s job is to control our body temperature. When our sweat evaporates, the surface of our skin cools and we cool down.
Because we have been enjoying some warmer temperatures recently (and more to come over the next few days – we hope!) here are a few tips to ensure that training in the heat doesn’t become unbearable.
- Hydration – If possible, hydrate in advance. Our bodies take time to absorb the fluid we consume so aim to keep hydrated from day to day, particularly during the warmer months. Sipping water during your workouts will help your sweating system to do it’s job.
- Dress for Success – Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather; no cotton t-shirts! (They trap sweat and heat against your body) Instead, wear cool, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics. These will soak sweat from your skin and transfer it to the outer surface of the garment for evaporation, thus keep you much cooler during your workout.
- Change your clothes – Don’t sit in your sweaty clothes for too long after your workout – even though you might still feel warm, it won’t take long to get a chill and pick up a sniffle even on warm Summer days.
As you prepare for your training sessions over the next few months, try to remember these tips to ensure you have a more enjoyable training experience – and remember, sweat is a good thing!