Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Beat the Heat! Summer will be here before you know it!


Tips on how to stay healthy during the hot months of summer

1.     WATER!!!  Always have water readily available wherever you go.  Pack it in a cooler with some ice packs and even when your car gets very hot, it’ll stay cool for a pretty long time.  Staying hydrated is the most important tip to remember, no matter what time of year it is.

2.     WEAR A HAT!  I know “hat hair” is terrible, but more than likely if you can put your hair into a ponytail it will be in one when it’s hot, so throwing a hat on over it won’t kill your ‘do.  Not only will it keep your face cooler but it will also shade your eyes and the delicate skin on your face…saving you from getting wrinkles or possibly skin cancer.  Which leads to my next point…

3.     SUNSCREEN!  Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!!  No one wants cancer, wrinkles, or that “leather” look.  Put it on after your morning shower and reapply as often as you can depending upon how long you are outside.  Take care of your skin….if you hadn’t noticed, it’s all over you so you can’t hide bad skin! 

4.     EAT CONSISTANTLY!  Pack some snacks in with your cooler full of water…keeping your blood sugar levels even during a hot day will decrease the likelihood of you getting lightheaded or possibly passing out.  In addition, you’ll stay leaner and healthier by eating every 2-3 hours, so start munching on healthy food!

5.     OPEN YOUR WINDOWS PERIODICALLY!  I know when it is hot it’s hard to turn off the AC and open your windows to get fresh air circulated through your living space, but it is very critical that you do this.  Even if it is once a week, possibly even while you are away for a couple of hours, it is imperative that you do this.  Turn on ceiling fans if you have them and get some fresh air in and push the bad air out.  This will keep you breathing less allergens, pet dander, common germs that cause you to get sick, etc.  Check your filters as well and make sure they are clean.  It’s better than feeling ill when you could be at the pool or amusement park having fun. 

6.     WORK OUT REGULARLY!  Keep your body and especially your heart healthy so that you can manage the heat better.  The sooner you get worn out on a regular basis, the harder it will be to stay active in the intense heat of the summer months.  The healthier you are, the longer you can have fun outside…and you’ll look and feel better, too.  Win/win…

7.     PROTECT YOUR EYES!  You need to protect your eyes just as much as your skin.  Wear protective eyewear that is dark and doesn’t let much or any sun in around the sides of the lenses.  I wear sunglasses even in the winter.  Keep those UV rays out of your eyes and prevent painful surgeries and/or corrective lens (or making your eye sight worse than it already is) in the future.

8.     REGULATE YOUR TIME OUTDOORS!  Try not to stay outside in extreme heat for too long of a period of time.  Give your body a rest periodically and cool back down.  Try to stay in the shade as much as possible.  Trust me, heat exhaustion is NOT fun…

9.     GRILL OUT!  One big plus for hot weather is eating healthier!  Although some still grill out in the winter, most people don’t.  Take advantage of your grill and make a variety of healthy foods, satisfying your taste buds as well as turning yourself into a lean, mean, healthy machine.  Get into those new habits and continue to eat this way throughout the winter months.  Buy a grill pan for your stove and savor the flavor!

10.                         ENJOY THE WEATHER!!!!!  Be a kid again!  Run around, play sports, walk, swim, play games with your kids, play with water balloons or water squirters, go to the beach and walk in the water or in the sand….GET ACTIVE!  HAVE FUN DOING IT!  Raise your spirits as well as your metabolism!  Trust me, you’ll notice a difference!

Always to your health…

Miranda Hoffmann, CFT, CLFC
937.239.0180

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