Fun Cardio Exercises for Summer

Luckily, the sunny days of summer encourage you to get out and exercise, just as shorts and bikinis might offer you extra incentive to get in shape. You may even be doing cardio exercises without knowing it!

Here are some of the most popular ways to exercise during the warm months:

• Swimming – even just splashing around in the water will burn calories. Every once in a while, just toss in a few laps (or if you are in a lake or ocean, a few minutes) of more intense swimming, doing the crawl, breaststroke, or backstroke. Swimming is also a great way to stay cool while exercising in the summer heat. Another heat beating idea is to jump in the water after a long run or bike ride to cool off. This is a refreshing way to cool your muscles down gently.
• Biking – even just sightseeing on a bike is a great calorie burner. Not only will you get to see more of the city you are visiting, but you will also build muscle and burn some calories in the process. For intense exercise, biking is great in the summer because the wind generated by your speed keeps you cool and dry.
• Outdoor sports – get your heart pumping with a friendly game of soccer, basketball, touch football, ultimate frisbee, tennis, or volleyball. These sports thrive in the summer months and are easy to find at your nearest park or beach.
• Running – an excellent cardiovascular workout, running can get a little uncomfortable in the heat of summer. The best times to run are in the early morning before the sun heats everything up, or after sunset when everything is cooling off. The added bonus of running in the morning is that you burn more fat if you run before breakfast. This is because your body doesn’t have a lot of energy stored and so it has to turn to fat for energy.
• Working out in the gym – if you live in a place that is unbearable without air conditioning, then the gym is the place to be. There are dozens of cardio options at the gym, including running on the treadmill, working out on the stair climber or elliptical machine, riding the stationary bikes or taking a spinning class, participating in aerobics classes, playing racquetball or basketball, and swimming.

Safety tips:

• Always wear sunscreen when exercising outdoors. Try to use a brand that is sweatproof as well. Don’t forget your ears!
• Wear a hat to protect your scalp, especially if you have short hair.
• Drink plenty of water before, during (if you are exercising for a long time), and after your workouts. Don’t drink ice water immediately after exercising because it is a shock to your body and you will not absorb it as quickly. However, once you have let yourself cool down a bit, ice water will lower your body temperature even further. Sports drinks with electrolytes are also advised.
• If you are biking in an urban setting, it is advisable not to wear headphones so that you are completely aware of your surroundings. Always wear a helmet. If you are running in an urban area after dark or very early in the morning before most people are awake, it is also advisable not to wear headphones.