Staying Cool While Exercising

I no longer need an excuse for night sweats and hot flashes but I do continue to get very warm while I am exercising, especially during the warm summer months when the gym (in my estimation) is too warm.  What do you do if you are one of those persons who sweat profusely when on the treadmill or racing around on the tennis courts? 

I found an article in the McClatchy-Tribune Business (July 21, 2008) by Ariel Hansen, that discussed ways to stay cool while working-out.  Most of her tidbits had to do with exercising out-of-doors, but I don’t see why the same suggestions wouldn’t hold true for those of us melting on the treadmill.  Her thoughts include:

 

• Adequate fluid replacement.  The main source of cooling is sweating and the body needs to replace that water.  She advised drinking 15-20 minutes before starting a workout program and then sipping often while your activity is in progress.

 

• Acclimate yourself.  Even supposedly cool gyms seem warm during the heat of the summer.  If you feel warmer than usual it isn’t remiss if you tone down your level of exertion a bit.  This is especially important if you are overweight, under weight, elderly or pregnant.

 

• Select exercise clothing that will wick moisture away from your body.  Wear loose clothing and socks that don’t hold odor and will let your feet breath.  If your feet sweat a lot you are familiar with that drenched icky foot feeling.

 

• While on a cruise ship I was introduced to the idea of iced towels that they kept in a small refrigerator, and I thought that was the best thing ever.  On your own you might consider using an ice pack scarf.  The blood rushing past the cooled skin helps cool the rest of the body, or so they say.

 

There was a second article published in The Wall Street Journal (July 13, 2010) by Laura Johannes about modern technological advances along these lines.  She talked about the growing number of companies that are now marketing personal cooling devices that (hopefully) keep you exercising longer and harder.

 

Personal cooling devices include a range of items that are designed to bring down your core temperature before or during your exercise periods.  They are generally filled with ice water or a cooling gel (need to be refrigerated before using).  Some of them are quite complicated and are still being tested, but small ones such as neck coolers, bonnets and cool strips for anywhere on your body piqued my interest.  In particular a strap on gel-pack for your palm that keep cold for 30 minutes or longer

 

Doctors caution that you should not count on these devices to prevent real heat stress or exhaustion, but I think we all might be a heck of a lot more comfortable if our sports bras, shirts and socks weren’t soaking wet.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jennifer West]

I've been using the iced towel idea. What I sometimes do is dip a white towel (white cools the mind, too) in cold water (sometimes with ice). Then I wring it dry and just sling it over my neck while I exercise. I also use it to wipe sweat in between counts, to keep my body cool all throughout. It helps you focus on the exercise, and not on making excuses because of the heat!