Beat the Heat at LA Fitness
There are many reasons to love summer: the longer days, the sunshine, the warmer weather. Although, that summer heat can certainly leave our bodies feeling a bit sluggish. This is because when the weather starts to warm up our bodies go into what can be explained as a sort of hyper-drive cooling state. Internally, our bodies are working extra hard to maintain a consistent temperature and while that is happening, our heart rates and metabolic rates can increase too.1 The extra effort being exerted by your body can leave you feeling sleepy even if you’ve been doing something as simple as sitting in the sun.
So the question stands, how can you motivate yourself to get to the gym and work out when all your body seems to want to do is lay around? Well, it’s important to first note that it’s OK to let your body rest. In fact, our bodies need it! Especially in hot weather. Fatigue can be a cause of dehydration or exposure to too much sun. Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water. The more our bodies sweat, the more they need rehydration. Your body also loses salts when you sweat too, so if you feel like your body needs a bit of extra replenishment, try rotating between water and a refreshing drink with electrolytes.
Tips to Beat the Summer Heat
1. Opt For Indoor Exercise
Yes, it’s safe to say that most people seem to enjoy spending extra time outdoors in the summer time. However, when it comes to working out, you may want to bring the exercise indoors. Try brining your run to the treadmill, cool off while swimming some laps at an indoor LA Fitness pool, or try cycling in a Group Fitness class instead of outdoors.* When your body gets too hot, it puts more of a strain on your workout routine. Maintain your normal workout pace by keeping cool.
2. Give Yoga A Try
Why yoga? Well, when the temperature gets hotter it can help the body to become more flexible.2 Not only may you have better luck engaging in yoga when your body temperature is higher, but yoga has been known to have relaxing effects on the body.3 If you’re feeling too tired for your typical workout routine, this may be a nice alternative. Find an LA Fitness club that offers yoga here.
3. Eat More of Nature’s Candy
Summer time treats can be amped up with the addition of healthy fruits. In fact, watermelon and strawberries contain about 92% water. Other high water volume fruits are cantaloupe, peaches, pineapple, raspberries and oranges, all ranking between 87-90% water. This helps replenish fluids in our bodies and can give our bodies a natural boost of energy post-workout.4
4. Chill Out
Taking a cold shower before your workout may “help reduce the risk of your body’s core temperature rising too quickly.”5 What does that mean for you? Well, it can help increase your body’s performance by allowing a greater possible increase in muscle temperature and heart rate before your body begins to overheat. Essentially, by allowing your body to experience the drop in temperature, you have given yourself more time to work out before your core temperature reaches peak levels.6 It’s important that you check with your physician before trying this technique, as a cooling pre-workout shower isn’t meant for everyone.
5. Take Exercise Along on the Vacation
Summer is a great time for vacations with family and friends! One of the best things about exercising is that it can be done almost anywhere. If you’re heading to the lake, splash around and burn some calories. Are you taking the vacation to the beach? Spend some time building sandcastles with the kids. Are you escaping to the mountains? Try hiking to get some cardio in. Just make sure no matter what you’re doing for exercise, you’re listening to your body and staying hydrated.
Why workout alone? Send a friend or family member a guest pass today!**
*Classes and amenities vary by location.
**Guest passes subject to additional terms and conditions. See website for details.
Sources:
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What percent of protein a day should seniors (over 65) be eating? I am female, if that makes a difference, and do cardio, weights, and yoga/Pilates classes.
– Carole H.
Hello Carole, I’m hoping your question is about what percent of calories should come from protein.
Seniors should consume about 1.0 gm protein per kilogram of body weight daily. This is higher than the recommended 0.8 gm/kg for other healthy adults for two reasons: a greater need for maintaining lean mass and slightly diminished protein digestion/absorption. Since protein has 4 calories per gram, your requirement equates to a set number of calories, but the percentage this makes up of your total calories will depend on how many you take in.
If you were 130 pounds, you’d need (divide pounds by 2.2 to get kilograms) 59 grams of protein. These 236 calories would be 12% of a 2000 Calorie diet, but 20% of a 1200 calorie diet.
– Debbie J., MS, RD
Protein for Fitness: Age Demands Greater Protein Needs. Densie Webb. Today’s Dietitian. April 2015 Issue, Vol. 17 No. 4, P. 16
Seniors — Beef it up to prevent muscle loss. Jennifer K. Nelson. WebMD. May 1, 2015
Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!
Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!
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Do you have a fitness goal? Let us know here! To learn more about Commit to fit, click here.
These are our most recent members who have committed to their fitness goals.
Yolany G.
Yolany G. wants to lose 20 pounds, and it looks like she’s well on her way to achieving that goal. Keep up the hard work!
Scott H.
Scott H. wants to live forever! Can you blame him? Life in the water seems pretty refreshing after all!
Darien H.
Darien H. is a personal trainer at LA Fitness & his fitness goal is to have a better quality of life. Keep going!
Chris G.
Chis G. hopes to improve his strength & athletic agility – sounds like an achievable fitness goal, Chris! Keep it up.
Alex H., Sean A., & Dakota L.
Alex H. wants to be a lean, mean, fighting machine! Sean A. & Dakota want to maintain being healthy. Keep staying active guys!
Stephanie Y.
Stephanie Y.’s fitness goal is to stay healthy & to keep challenging herself. Stick to your goals & you can do it!
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“You don’t always get what you wish for, but you get what you work for.”
Cycling –
It may first draw to mind the Tour de France, cycling legend Eddy Merckx, or Queen’s famous hit song “Bicycle Race”. It’s a sport that has been become increasingly popular over recent years, with trendy new businesses being built around the bike and the benefits its users reap when exercising. However, cycling itself has been around for quite some time. In fact, cycling was first introduced to the Olympic Games as early as 1896 Yet, you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, or even training for a bike race, to gain the benefits of cycling. You can simply enjoy biking or want to explore the idea of how engaging in a cycling class can help you get in better shape. If you’ve been curious about this fitness method, many LA Fitness club locations offer Group Fitness cycle classes that are complimentary with LA Fitness memberships.
Before getting started, there are some things you should know:
Trying anything new can sometimes bring with it a sense of nervousness. It’s alright to go into a class a little worried. However, that’s why the Group Fitness instructor is there. If it’s your first time, let the instructor know. Oftentimes, they will ask at the beginning of the class if it’s anyone’s first time. That way, they can help you adjust your seat height and pedal straps and answer any questions you may have before getting started.
Cycling can be a somewhat vigorous and high-paced class, lasting approximately 50 minutes, so ensure you have enough water to stay hydrated. It’s important to always have water with you when working out, no matter what exercise you choose. Most LA Fitness cycle bikes even have a convenient water bottle holder, so you have easy access to your hydration.
Whether you’re new to cycling or you’re an experienced rider, all skill levels are welcomed to class. Instructors will often give you a range to work between for gear level and RPM (revolutions per minute), so you can adjust it to your own personal preference/skill set. Don’t go in to your first class thinking you have to go at full capacity or stay for the entire class. Do what feels the most comfortable for you, and your body will slowly build up endurance.
Cycling shoes are preferred by some riders, but are not a requirement for an LA Fitness group cycle class. Clothing can be loose or tight fitting, depending on your personal preference. Bring along a small workout towel to help wipe away excess sweat and don’t forget the most important thing – have fun!
Cycling doesn’t have to be a race. Think of it as a fun and fresh way to stay in shape, all while pedaling your way to a slimmer waist.
We interviewed cycle enthusiast and Group Fitness cycle instructor, Gail T. who shared her views on why you should give cycling a chance.
Q: What do you think sets cycling apart from other Group Fitness classes?
Gail T.: Cycling classes are unique. They are an amazing cardio workout and can be done by everyone, as the workout can be tailored to personal needs or goals. Cycling is different than other classes as it’s relatively easy to follow the instructor and get a great workout, even on your first ride. Anyone of any age or fitness level can do a cycling class. You can modify it to accommodate your fitness level or build up your cardio endurance, or you can scale it back if you are recovering from injuries.
Q: Why choose cycle over other aerobic options?
GT: People often ask why cycling? To be honest, I think cardio wise, it’s the best bang for your buck in burning calories, getting fit, and being able to quickly be a part of a team. In cycling, we do it all. We do intervals, hills, sprints, and mountains, which make you stronger and healthier with every class. It’s a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class and it’s a lot of work, but also a lot of fun! Each member controls how easy or how hard the workout is by changing the gear on his or her bike.
“I don’t believe you have to be better than anybody else. I believe you have to be better than YOU ever thought you could be.”
Q: What does cycling mean to you?
GT: I’ve been teaching cycle classes for years and this year marks my 14th anniversary with LA Fitness. I was hooked with cycling classes from the very first class I ever took and being an instructor really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Over the years, I’ve tried to share my passion for fitness and cycling with everyone I meet. I’ve made countless friends over the years, and having new members join the team on a regular basis makes classes extra fun. No ride is ever the same and it’s amazing how quickly you’ll progress from being a first time rider who is unsure of what to do, to becoming a rockstar, full of energy and power!
Q: If you could give one piece of fitness advice to our readers, what would it be?
GT: Just try a class. The first class is often your worst class, but if you kind of like it, it will only get better. You will notice that the more you do it, the better you get and we all like doing what we are good at. So, take a chance and embrace the opportunity to focus on YOU for an hour. I feel strongly that each person is entitled to some you time and you’ll never regret a great workout!
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Hi! I am a sophomore in high school who has been interested in health and fitness since middle school. Within the past two years I have worked hard to lose a good amount of weight/fat, but I can’t seem to lose anymore. As a matter of fact, my only concern is losing the fat and maintaining my weight. I do plenty of weight training with machines, inclined running, and I even workout at school because I am on the dance team. I use the MyFitnessPal app to track my caloric intake, and even with the “weight loss” setting, I can’t seem to lose any more fat. I refer to myself as “skinny fat” because I am pretty long and slim, but my stomach has a good amount of fat to get rid of, and I want to look more toned. The past three months I have been pushing my workouts harder, and restricting my calories more. I can’t seem to get more results and I just don’t know what to do anymore. I am looking for fat loss, and a more toned look.
– Patricia S.
Lots of physical activity for a teen certainly burns calories, though it may not translate to toning because the tissues are programmed to reach their genetic potential under the guidance of your maturing hormones. Granted, you may see some older girls with six-packs in the media, but they are typically fitness models and make up less than 1% of the population. Chances are your body is fighting to attain its adult female form while you are attempting to prevent it from doing so. Consuming less than 1600 calories also makes it difficult to get the nutrients you need, such as iron and magnesium.
Experts do not recommend restricting calories1, but rather making the most out of what calories you do eat. Be sure to get at least 25 grams of fiber and 8-10 glasses of fluid daily. Instead of sweetened beverages or diet sodas, drink water or iced tea. Include healthy fats such as omega-3s (from fish), oils, avocado, nuts and nut butters. Eat two to three calcium rich foods per day, 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and 6 ounces of whole grains. Include a little protein at each meal and snack. Meals should have 3-4 food groups, while snacks should have items from at least 2 food groups.
It’s important to maintain a positive body image. Focus on the health benefits of your good choices. Embrace the long and slim physique that exercise has brought you. Concern yourself with enjoying summer, developing healthy habits and staying on top of dance! You’re on your way to becoming a capable, strong woman of substance.
If you think you may worry too much about your weight or body image, or if thinking about these things is interfering with your happiness, tell an adult you trust, like a parent, coach, teacher or doctor.
– Debbie J., MS, RD
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This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.
Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Want more? SUBSCRIBE to receive the latest Living Healthy articles right in your inbox!
Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!
Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!
Debbie James, RDN, helps answer a reader’s question about using nutrition to lose weight and gain muscle when exercise can’t be consistently maintained.
Can the Grim Reaper help you reap some health benefits? We’re diving into the reasons why many people seek out a good scare and what effects it has on the body.
Autumn brings a stirring of cool wind, fallen leaves, and a host of new allergens to battle. You can manage these home-invading allergens with some very easy-to-implement measures.