Summer Workouts and Your Energy Level

    Summer time – a great way to enjoy the outdoors and be active. Of course with the arrival of heat and humidity it’s very important to keep your body hydrated. If you are skipping your water intake these days, it only takes a 1-2 percent change in your typical hydration levels for you to begin noticing a decrease in your energy level. Get a hold of the water bottle and continue to drink, drink, and drink.
    As we age, you begin to notice changes in your energy levels. Your workout or activities sessions further costs the body to produce energy to meet the physiological workloads. You may notice that some years ago you could breeze through your workout and now it’s a struggle to get through the first 20-30 minutes. So what to consider?
• If your diet consists mainly of refined carbohydrates, your blood sugar level and therefore your energy level will be affected. This will have a dramatic effect on how you fell. Try eating smaller meals throughout the day which are rich in whole grains and protein.
• Make certain you are breathing properly and not taking short, shallow breaths.
• If you begin to feel fatigue cut back on the intensity of the exercise and consider cooling down by continuing walking.
• Make sure you are always and adequately hydrated.
    As you work to maintain your energy level, you may feel some muscle soreness associated with your workout. Regardless of your fitness and activities, the majority of us suffer from “soreness” at times. If you are trying to relive soreness in your ankles, you may want to work with resistance bands to stretch out the ankle joint. You may experience fatigue in the calf and Achilles tendons as well. Stretching these areas and completing a full range of motion stretch will be helpful. 
    The most important piece of information is to listen and understand your body. “No pain – no Gain” is the surest way to injury. We are all unique – no regular exercise program suites everyone. You must be smart when to push yourself and when to stop. There is no substitute to a complete medical check-up with your medical doctor. If you haven’t already check with a personal trainer it may be a good idea to have a complete fitness evaluation and understand your body’s capabilities and set some goals.