At InsideOut Fitness sweat is our friend! But while we love the steamy tropical climate of the Top End, when working out in the heat and humidity we need to take care of our bodies to make sure we’re not overdoing it. Overexerting can lead to heat exhaustion and stress your body, especially in summer.
Here’s the InsideOut Fitness team’s tip on staying cool when working out in Darwin’s heat.
Wear light fabrics
Firstly – you don’t need to spend big money to impress anyone with big brand names and fancy training gear here. That’s not what we’re about!
But we do want you to wear gear that’s comfortable, supportive and most importantly, helps keeps your body temp regulated as you work out.
When choosing your workout gear look for:
- Light colours – dark can attract and trap heat
- Moisture wicking fabrics – a cotton/poly or cotton/nylon blend will whisk moisture away, breathe, and keep you cool
- Clothes that fit well to avoid the dreaded chafing issue that can happen with baggy clothes!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
- Don’t exercise on an empty stomach – at least have some fluid so you’re hydrated before you start
- Keep your intake of water steady
- If you’ve worked out long and hard supplement your plain water with some electrolytes – they occur naturally in fruit like oranges, watermelon or banana.
Stay sun safe
- Wear a cap or visor if you’re training in the sun
- Don’t forget your sunscreen
- Try and avoid training in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest.
Team, we want you to push yourself – that’s where the results are. But know the difference between pushing and going too far. If you feel dizzy, nauseous or weak during a workout you could be dehydrated, so tone it down and tell your trainer. Your safety comes first.
Now let’s get out there and sweat!
