Keeping Cool, While Exercising in the Heat

5/30/2012 (Updated 9:29:58 PM)

It's swimsuit season.  And people want to drop the extra weight they may have gained over the winter.

Angela Callahan, a former trainer now General Manager of Planet Fitness in Vestal says, "people gain more weight in the winter than the summertime because they are more sedentary and they're not exposed to their body as they would be in the summer."

Gym memberships decrease this time of year because people want to get outside. 

Sanjiv Patel, MD says, "when you live in an area that has mostly colder climates, there's an interest to go outside and enjoy the weather.  The only problem is when it gets to hot you do run the risk of potential heat exhaustion or heat stroke."

So how can we prevent the dangers of the sun while still enjoying it?

"You want to avoid times when the heat index is very high which is between 12:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon," said Patel. 

"After an intense, hot work out they should stretch, take in some hydration. If they worked out very hard and very long I would suggest they take in some sort of carbohydrate. And a Gatorade which has electrolytes which will help out as well," said Callahan. 

Christina Winterstein might work at a gym, but she loves to exercise outside. 

"I think I've adapted to the weather.  I've put myself outside in hot temperatures," said Winterstein.

But even an experienced outdoor runner like Christina can't always beat the heat.

"My stomach had chills and I was cramping but it was 104 degrees outside, I literally felt my body dehydrating," Winterstein recalled.

Now she takes precaution. 

"If I feel like it's getting to much I'll find a place in the shade and cool down and then I'll keep going," said Christina.

Callahan says the key is in the cool down. "At least a 5-10 minute cool down is very important to get the body's homeostasis back to normal."

Andrea Loren, FOX 40 News


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