How do you maintain your motivation to exercise when it's so hot?

Design4Me
Design4Me Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been trying to exercise to lose weight. I'm working with a nutritionist, have learned a lot and with my new eating habits in place have lost 9 pounds but I am struggling to be consistent in walking and in exercising when it's so hot. Outside temperatures are ranging above 100 degrees and sometimes inside seems not much better - how do you do it?
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Replies

  • gaborszollosy
    gaborszollosy Posts: 70 Member
    Getting my workouts done in an air conditioned gym helped me a lot :D
  • cindyangotti
    cindyangotti Posts: 294 Member
    I live in Florida so I know what you are talking about!!! I have a desk job and like to walk on my two 15 minute breaks and my lunch hour. However, I have not been walking quite as much during work hours because of the heat. It's not nice coming back to work a sweaty mess! I just have to make up the steps in the evening or at the gym.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    If I'm running, I get up early and run before the heat of the day sets in. If I'm cycling, I hydrate well, don't work too hard, and cycle into the wind as much as possible.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Have a back up plan...........exercise indoors

    I live in the Midwest.....3' of snow on the ground is a good excuse (for me) too.

    Tons of on-line videos to help you. I like Leslie Sansone & Jessica Smith DVDs. These are "indoor walking." OK, not just walking....but no choreography either. Simple & low impact.

    www.youtube.com/user/walkathomemedia

    www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jessica+smith+walking+workouts

    If you find you like these workouts....but could do w/o all the chatter, newer DVDs give you a music only option.
  • Ruatine
    Ruatine Posts: 3,424 Member
    I'm in south Texas, so I feel your pain. I honestly hate gyms, so I do go out for exercise. I've actually been waiting until 8pm or so when the temps start to drop before going out. Gives me a brief span of time to get in some walking. I'm also considering waking up earlier (6:15ish) to get in walking early, because it's even cooler then - that's more of a struggle for this non-morning person though.
  • DBrooks1979
    DBrooks1979 Posts: 350 Member
    For me.. I have a desk job and have two fifteen minute breaks and a thirty min lunch break and I make use of the break times for walking.. I talk a long one a 10 before it gets really hot.. and then a short one at 3 in the afternoon because it is hot.. just make the afternoon one shorter and quicker or much slower place so I don't sweat and get all gunky...

    Just ideas.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I don't workout outside during the summer since I don't do well in higher heat/humidity. So any exercise I do is at the gym or at home. I'll walk around my house in the evening on the phone or reading if I need more steps for the day.
  • Kexessa
    Kexessa Posts: 346 Member
    I'm in Florida so I know how you feel! I go early, 9ish in the morning and am out for an hour or two. Depends on how often I stop for various things. You kind of get used to it I guess. And I always weigh myself when I get home, it's usually good for a 2-3lb water weight loss :)
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    It has to be done. My body isn't going to cut me any slack because I don't feel like being out in the heat. Earlier in the week when it was close to 110, I waited a little later in the evening, but not doing it just wasn't an option.

    Maybe you could try a different time or drive to a route in a more tree-covered area. Shade makes a massive difference.
  • Bubba1922
    Bubba1922 Posts: 67 Member
    Wished I had that problem - it is always grey, cold or raining here.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    DBrooks1979 wrote: »
    For me.. I have a desk job and have two fifteen minute breaks and a thirty min lunch break and I make use of the break times for walking.. I talk a long one a 10 before it gets really hot.. and then a short one at 3 in the afternoon because it is hot.. just make the afternoon one shorter and quicker or much slower place so I don't sweat and get all gunky...

    Just ideas.

    .....baby wipes

    I keep these in my desk as a just in case.
  • Linovitz
    Linovitz Posts: 79 Member
    I live in the DC area, so we are hot here too. Maybe not 100 though. Here are some ideas that might work. Try to fit in your exercise early in the morning or late at night when it isn't so hot. If you have a basement, you can exercise there where it is cooler. If the ceiling is high enough, a jump rope works great. Body weight resistant exercises like bands are good and cheap. If you have a gym available - maybe even a walk-in YMCA or a community center? Another option is an exercise DVD you can do inside. I have a couple - one using an exercise ball. Last, how about swimming?
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Or walk around the mall. Not the DC mall, a shopping mall.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    edited August 2015
    By thinking about how F'ing cold it's going to be here in a few short months.

    That and I usually work out about 4:30 in the morning to avoid the heat, but welcome all humidity.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    It's not as hot at 5 am in the morning.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    It's not as hot at 5 am in the morning.
    True, but 86 at 5:15AM is crappy in its own way. Still better than 106 at 5:15PM, though.

  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    strong_curves wrote: »
    It's not as hot at 5 am in the morning.
    True, but 86 at 5:15AM is crappy in its own way. Still better than 106 at 5:15PM, though.
    True! I work out at home in my basement and no central air. I just sort of push through it but I don't go as HAM as I do in the winter.

  • ki4eld
    ki4eld Posts: 1,215 Member
    I get up at 5a and walk. I get to do yoga inside and swimming in the heat is no problem. But to get the walking done, I have to do it very, very early morning. I won't do it late evening, I know that about me. That leaves early morning whether I like it or not!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited August 2015
    @Design4Me - if I lived where you do I'd join a gym, and look for one with a solid AC system - none of that fan nonsense.

    When I lived in South Florida and had to walk our dog in the summer, I took him right at sun up and sun down.

    Why is it so hot indoors? I work from home and put in duct-less split AC - best $3,000 I ever spent.
  • 50andfabu
    50andfabu Posts: 112 Member
    I really enjoy my gym. I look forward to going and do different things every time I go. As long as I am doing something, I am burning calories and strengthening my body. Maybe in the future I'll get more serious and get a program. I also like the machines that have the TV in them.

    I have a treadmill at home, but the gym provides variety and some socializing
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Air conditioned gym

    Walk in the woods

    Walk in the mall

    Move to a more temperate location like England

    Swim
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    Yeah, DC-area for me too and it is hot! High 90s plus humidity -- still, not as hot as some people and I don't know how they do it. I do belong to a gym, which is our local community center. Unfortunately they close the entire center for three weeks in August for the county fair and then for maintenance. I do have to walk my dog once every day (my husband does the second walk) so I try to get out early in the morning to do that.

    I'm on call at a local hospital so on nights that I'm there (I usually sleep there when I'm on call) I walk up and down the stairs, and do rounds in the entire hospital. Some days at home I march in place or walk up and down my basement stairs. I keep meaning to look on the tv and see if there are any exercise shows on. Or I need to buy a DVD.

    I have a step tracker so that's the motivation for my marching in place -- I'm trying to get more steps in to get the little dots (MisFit) up to my goal, from whatever I accumulated on my morning dog walk.

    On another thread someone said to put some lively music on and just dance around the living room. Excellent idea however I'm not willing to do that with anyone else home. :blush: lol

    Not much help probably, but that's what I've been trying to do. I CANNOT wait until fall to be able to take lovely long walks in the kind of weather that requires a hoodie or sweater. :)
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    strong_curves wrote: »
    It's not as hot at 5 am in the morning.
    True, but 86 at 5:15AM is crappy in its own way. Still better than 106 at 5:15PM, though.

    I'd take 86 with little to no sun 8 days a week, humidity level also makes a big difference. When I was stationed in death valley, we used to workout at 5am. It was in the mid 90's, but felt like the mid 70's because there was 0 humidity.
  • Graymanstole
    Graymanstole Posts: 257 Member
    I work out in the heat. The rain. The snow. Only lightning prevents me from working out as I'm highly allergic to it. I love being outside, and prefer that to the gym any day of the week. I also remind myself that if I wait for "perfect" weather to work out in, I'd only do it three times a year.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    The heat doesn't bother me at all, but I cannot walk very fast when it's so humid because I can't breathe, lol.

    I walk slowly. I swim. I wait for October to arrive. :)
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    I also use Leslie Sansone dvds indoors when the weather isn't cooperative and have a good stationary bike w/2 fans pointed at it!
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    I second the poster above regarding you tube videos. They're free, you do them indoors and you can ramp them up when they get too repetitious or simple.
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    try2again wrote: »
    I also use Leslie Sansone dvds indoors when the weather isn't cooperative and have a good stationary bike w/2 fans pointed at it!

    Oh yeah, duh (as my kids would say)...YouTube. lol at me. I was thinking that one of the cable channels might have exercise programs, but YouTube is much more convenient. My son always reminds me "Mom! You can find anything on YouTube!" :smiley:
  • Pinnacle_IAO
    Pinnacle_IAO Posts: 608 Member
    Design4Me wrote: »
    I've been trying to exercise to lose weight. I'm working with a nutritionist, have learned a lot and with my new eating habits in place have lost 9 pounds but I am struggling to be consistent in walking and in exercising when it's so hot. Outside temperatures are ranging above 100 degrees and sometimes inside seems not much better - how do you do it?
    How?
    I get out in the heat and sit...read a book.
    I open up all the windows and keep the AC off.
    Let your body acclimate.
    Another great summer habit is swimming. Just go to a pool and play around in the water which keeps you cool and allows you time to breath that hot air. You adapt.
    If all you do is hide from the heat in the AC, outside will always seem too hot.
    Maybe this could help you; good luck... :)
  • tannibal_lecter
    tannibal_lecter Posts: 83 Member
    I go out right before sunset. I live in a semi-desert and it cools off a bit before the sun goes down. Also it doesn't start getting really hot here until 9am so morning outings are nice.

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