Exercising in extreme temperature conditions
By FitnessReach. Filed in Fitness & Exercise |
Temperature is an important thing to consider when exercising. Gyms generally have air conditioners and heaters to get the training rooms at an appropriate temperature level so you can fitness train at any time that suits you. If you have a home gym or do your fitness outdoors then you have to factor in the temperature to find the best time to train. Extreme hot or cold conditions can be harmful to your health.
If you are training in extreme hot conditions your body will dehydrate really quickly. You have to make sure prior to your workout that you drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated during the session. When we exercise in this heat our bodies can reach temperatures of high 38 degrees Celsius or more. This can be harmful to your body since you can feel light headed from heat exhaustion. Our bodies can lose one to two litres of water per hour in sweat so it is vital that you keep yourself hydrated if you must train in extreme heat conditions. Wear clothing that is light-coloured and loose fitting to allow sweat to evaporate. It is recommended to avoid your fitness workout in extreme heat and try to exercise in the mornings or evenings.
Training in extreme cold conditions can also be harmful to your health. If you take a little extra time to warm up and stretch your muscles you will reduce the likelihood of any injuries. Don’t think that because you are not sweating as much that you are wasting your time. Fitness training is related to the resistance you put on your body so if you have applied a hard workout then you will see benefits even if it is cold. I have found that if it is really cold then I start my workout with long sleeve top or pants and as I progress my body temperature rises so I can put a t-shirt or shorts on. This way I can warm my muscles up faster during warm-up.
I would advise if training in a non air-conditioned or heated place the best option would be to try to move your fitness workout to a different part of the day which is more temperature friendly. If you can’t shift your schedule then take the necessary precautions to avoid any harm to your body.
