Beat the heat!

With summer temps heating up, many of us find this as an all too easy excuse to not exercise. This is also the time of year when many people hit the mid-year slump between their New Year resolutions to be healthy and exercise regularly.  Exercise does not become less important just because bikini season is upon us!  Aside from getting up early to get in your daily walk/run, there are other ways to make sure that you are still getting the exercise that your body needs to stay healthy.

Many would suggest that you simply get up earlier to beat the heat of the day.  For me, getting up to workout at 4:00 AM is simply not at going to happen.  There are definitely a few other ways to get your work out in and still sleep until a decent hour.

Use your pool!

Even though the pool is a great place to relax on weekends, it can also be your key to exercise during the week!  The aquatic environment is an excellent place to get some exercise and to beat the heat…all in one!  While lap swimming is a great cardio option, it is not the only exercise to be done in your pool.  You can do many of the same exercises that you would in a land-based program.  Some great water exercises include running in place, squats and lunges.  The water will provide resistance and will also help to reduce some of the load on your knees and hips.  If you don’t have a pool, head down to our great lake to get your exercise on!

Join a gym!

Many folks rush off to join fitness centers at the beginning of the year, but the summer heat is a great time to take your workout routine indoors.  The gyms in Lake Havasu have a variety of cardio equipment, weights, and resistance machines to get a well rounded workout done while avoiding the outside temperatures.  There are many locals that favor outdoor workouts in the cooler months and then bring their routine indoors during the summer.  You can choose to workout by yourself or join one of many class offerings.  Our local fitness centers also have great air conditioning plans to make sure that you do just the right amount of sweating with your workout!

Workout at home!

While many of us find the heat preventative to going for an outdoor run, there are certainly many options for exercising right in the comfort of your own home.  It may just be time to dust off that coat rack, aka treadmill, that has been collecting dust in the corner of your office!  In all reality, there are a whole host of exercise classes that can be viewed online or downloaded from one of many app stores on your tablet or mobile device.  Simply turn down the AC a couple of degrees, turn on some music, and get to work!

A daily exercise routine is one of the biggest keys to truly living a healthy lifestyle. This does not become less important during the summer heat.  Don’t let the work that you did this winter go astray over the summer because you think it is too hot to exercise.  Staying active and getting enough exercise in the coming months may mean that you have to be a bit more creative in creating your exercise plan.  As always, most health goals are best achieved when you have to be accountable.  Enlist one of your friends in your plan and keep working towards a healthier you!

*Copyright Havasu Living Magazine