Exercising is not only important for yourself, but for your children as well. It also doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, so the next time you head out for a run, take the kids along with you for a fun family activity. Continue reading “Running with Your Kids: A Parental Guide”
With the heat of the summer on, exercising outside can be dangerous. From overheating to dehydration, knowing how to stay safe when exercising outside is something all women should know, athlete or not. Don’t ignore these basic rules.
Even if you are exercising on a cloudy day, you can still get burned. Choose a sunscreen that provides 50 SPF protection and reapply regularly. Avoid spray on sunscreen and sunscreens that claim to be over 50 SPF. Not only are aerosols bad for the environment, but anything over 50 SPF doesn’t work.
Before, during and after exercising outdoors, it is very important to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated will keep your muscles and cardiovascular system functioning as they should, as well as allowing you to sweat.
Sweating may seem gross, but it is essential to maintain your body temperature. When you sweat, you lose a lot of:
When you lose these three components, you are losing necessary nutrients and minerals. If you have cramping, that is usually a sign that you need potassium in your diet. You can replenish electrolytes with a sports drink like Gatorade. Never drink soft drinks when exercising. Soft drinks contain sugar and caffeine, both of which will dehydrate you even more. Balance sports drinks with water.
Even though sweating cools you down, it cannot do so on a humid day. That is why you should not only check the temperature outside before you exercise, but also the humidity. Humidity will make a hot day seem even more unbearable because the sweat will not be evaporating off of your body as it should. If you have to exercise outside on a humid day, take precautions and regularly find cool places to rest.
While you need to push yourself to get stronger or faster, watch out for any warning signs that you’re pushing yourself too hard. If you begin to experience these symptoms, stop exercising and take a break:
Even if you’ve exercised regularly for years, it’s easier than you think to make mistakes during your workouts. Many fitness experts know the best exercises and know how to complete them well, but they also may get over-confident and begin to cut corners. Here are the top five mistakes fitness experts and athletes tend to make and why you should avoid them:
Even if you feel like you’re in good enough shape to jump right into a workout, it’s not the best thing for your body. Continue reading “Top 5 Worst Mistakes Athletes Can Make When Exercising”
If you’re pregnant and want to exercise, you’ve probably wondered if it’s safe. On top of that, you may have been bombarded with advice from well-meaning family and friends on what you should and shouldn’t do.
While it may seem rude, your doctor’s advice is the one that matters above friends or family. Hiring a trainer who specializes in pregnancy can help you exercise safely and motivate you to stay healthy. Before continuing or beginning an exercise regimen when pregnant with or without a trainer, get your doctor’s okay. Continue reading “A Guide to Safe Exercise While Pregnant”
The saying “no pain, no gain” is often associated with exercising, and men sometimes have a tendency to prioritize competition over safety. When you exercise, you should not be in pain. Pain while exercising is your body’s way of telling you that you are stressing or even damaging a part of your body. Before you try out that new exercise or fitness trend, make sure that you are being safe by following these simple steps: Continue reading “How to Avoid Injuries When Trying New Fitness Trends”