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Tag: exercising

Tips for Exercising in the Heat

By Alex Myers

Its almost time for Oklahoma to heat up again and that means everyone is ready to shed off those winter clothes and head back outdoors to do all the activities we love. Whether it be running, biking, hiking, or just playing some basketball with friends at the park, its always good to know a few basic tips for staying safe and keeping cool. Some of these tips may seem like common sense, but get overlooked everyday by someone somewhere.

• Choose your activity time wisely. While this may seem like a no brainer to some, the time of day in which you are outside exercising can have a huge impact on your hydration as well as protecting yourself from the sun. I’ve found that the best time to get that exercise for the day is early in the morning if at all possible and if not wait until after 4 pm. The suns rays are at their peak between 10 am and 4pm.
• Choose your attire accordingly. One of the things that I see while out exercising in the summer months is people don’t usually pay attention to what they are wearing. In the summer months it’s always a good idea to wear loose fitting light colored clothing. The lighter colors will help to reflect some of that Oklahoma heat and keep you cool.
• Always wear sunscreen. This tends to be more of problem with the men than with women, but sunscreen in a must if you’re going to be out in the sun for any amount of time. Even if it’s a cloudy day out you can still get burned and damage your skin from the sun.
• Staying hydrated. Probably the most important aspect of being out in the summer months while exercising. Try and drink a glass of water before your go out and always be sure to have water with you while you are out.

These are just a few simple tips to try and help you stay cool and healthy while out getting your exercise during the summer months. Take these tips and get out there and try something new this summer, you might just find something you love!

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Buddy Broncho

Exercising in Cold Weather

When winter arrives in Oklahoma, most people try to avoid exercising outdoors because of the temperature, but exercising in cold weather actually has some benefits. It may help burn more calories, gives you more energy, and even can enhance your mood. Most peoploe who exercise do know that exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good, but your body has to work even harder when it is cold out to keep your body warm, therefore burning more calories and releasing more of those endorphins.

TIPS FOR EXERCISING IN COLD WEATHER:

1) Try to stay on heavily traveled routes. This can help decrease risks of injury. If someone were to fall and get injured and they are out by themselves where there is no one to see them, they could potentially develop hyperthermia if the temperature is too cold and they cannot get back to warmth quickly.

2) Get a better warm up before the activity. Prolong your warm up indoors before going outdoors to exercise because muscles take longer to warm up in cold weather and do not stay as warm while exercising in the cold temperatures. When you first start your exercise, try taking 30-second breaks every so often to minimize risk of injury.

3) Try to stay on paths that are blocked from the wind. Running on trails near trees or walls help you stay warm by blocking the wind and elements of winter.

4) Cool down progressively. You do not want to just stop at the end of your exercise. Try to slow your pace for the final 3 or 4 minutes of exercise and go in doors to stretch afterward.

5) Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your workout. Try to keep your water bottle underneath your layers so it will not freeze. Since sweat is not as visible during cold weather, most people do not realize that they sweat just as much as when it’s hot out, therefore, they do not pay as much attention to hydrating as they should.

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Buddy Broncho

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