Summer Workout Tips

Summer Workout Tips

Outdoor fitness aficionados rejoice! Our lifestyle team recently sat down with ELITE Live’s Head InstructorJosh Krantz to learn some exclusive outdoor workout tips for the summer season!

What are two of the most important things to keep in mind if you want to take a break from your indoor gym routine and want to work out outside?

Summer time is when people want to get out but you should also be mindful about proper hydration and workout time. A crucial element about outdoor fitness in the summer is hydration – you want to consistently drink water and it even starts the day before. Avoid drinking large amounts of water before a work out, instead start your hydration as soon as you wake up and into your workout with water or sports drinks like Gatorade – the key is to keep drinking! Another key factor is the time of day. If you can stray away from working out between 10 am and 4 pm, do it. That time range is the hottest part of the day with the highest level of humidity. If you don’t have the time do workout before or after that time slot then what you can do is wear light clothing with light colors like white or yellow. Put on sunscreen and wear a hat and if you can choose a green area versus concrete.

What are some great summer workouts that can accomplish a lot under 30 minutes? Where can they be done?

HIIT training is definitely the best bang for your buck if you are working with 20 to 30 minutes. String together exercises like jumping jacks, mountain climbers, sprints, and burpees to optimize your workout in a short period. The great thing about HIIT training is that you don’t need a lot of room. A clear sidewalk or a small area at a park are spaces that you can turn into a calorie incinerating fitness pocket. A bonus tip that I would recommend if you are doing a HIIT workout is to wear sweat wicking clothing so that you don’t feel all the extra perspiration. Bring a light towel to take off that excess sweat.

What are 3 items that you can bring to make your outdoor workout comparable to a gym workout?

I love gyms but outdoor workouts are so versatile and you don’t need a lot of equipment to make them effective. Jump ropes are awesome for endurance and stamina and they are just plain fun at the end of the day. Another accessory are resistance bands – both small or large – a lot of people forget that you can use your body weight to make yourself stronger – show the resistance band some love! Last but not least, the mighty kettlebell. It may look innocent but even just a 10-minute kettlebell workout will have you sweating hard – they are great for legs, back, shoulders and arms – they incorporate so many parts of your body and kick your workout into another gear.

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