The sweltering “dog days of summer” which are usually reserved for August/September, hit Austin HARD in early June. We’re talking temperatures in the 100+ range for days and days on end.
When it’s this hot, it’s really hard to stay active. Like a slug, we sit around, close to naked, binge-watching Hulu, Netflix, or Prime. As an alternative, we read. And if we really feel ambitious and alert, we may work a cross-road puzzle or 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
And of course, there’s lots of eating.
Most of it is in the form of continuous snacking. Tacos, with chips, queso and salsa, are an all-time favorite. A handful of nuts comes in handy as we ponder our next snack. Whole watermelons are refreshing, as is ice cream, frozen fruit pops, and sorbet. I have a particular fondness during this “season of hell” for birthday cake, washed down with a tumbler of iced tea. Call me crazy, but that little treat seems to reduce my anxiety-induced frame of mind.
Now Beth calling from Michigan can barely understand this weather. She’s still waking up to beautiful mornings in the 60’s and taking her coffee (hot not iced) on her patio after taking a morning walk. But she loves me, so she patiently listens to my Texas weather reports and the panic in my voice as I await along with my fellow Austinites another record-setting day.
Yesterday, during our daily morning call, I mentioned I needed a new exercise plan for the summer. I needed new moves to get me up and moving. After all, we still have months of this sizzling summer to contend with.
So instead of wasting our time fixated on heat, humidity, and airborne allergens we started a creative session around clever ways to fit in daily exercise and at the same time stay out of the sun. We wanted to think of activities that were more fun than simply resorting to going to an air-conditioned gym or working out online.
So here we go. Honestly, we’re feeling pretty full of ourselves with this short list. Hope you find our three ideas equally creative and useful.
ZIG-ZAGGING THE GROCERY STORE
This one is all Beth. I think it’s brilliant. It will not only give you about a 20-minute workout (depending on the size of your grocery list) it will also put a significant dent in your daily step count – if you count steps.
This exercise session starts with writing out (or using your phone) to make your full grocery list.
Once at the grocery store, start shopping. But not in the traditional way.
Normally we’ll work one section of the store at a time. For example, if we’re in the produce department, we’ll pick up our leafy greens, broccolini, pints of berries, tomatoes, and bananas.
But not on Zig-Zagging the Grocery Store day! Instead of working one department at a time, you’ll work through your list as it’s written.
If, for instance your list looks like this:
Tomatoes
Egg whites
Water
Bananas
Dishwashing pellets
. . .and so forth.
Then that’s the way you’re going to shop!
Pick up the tomatoes. Then walk all the way across the grocery and pick up the egg whites. Now it’s back to the middle of the grocery for the bottled water, only to hit the produce department again for the bunch of bananas!
A workout, right? Plus you’ll really get to know your grocery store!
Ok, so on to our second idea to beat the heat while living a healthy lifestyle!
This one we’re calling:
A Visit to Alaska from Your Living Room
Do you have your own customized, indoor exercise program? A program you use when it’s inconvenient to exercise outdoors, or you’re not in the mood to travel to the gym.
Some of us use a rebounder. For others it may be a round of calisthenics, or maybe Pilates. If you’re like me, what you usually do is gather your equipment, pop in your earbuds and listen to a podcast or audiobook while working out. Or maybe you fancy a YouTube video while working out.
Think of this idea as your usual custom workout. The difference is it’s been “summer-ized”
As you prepare for this workout experience, I’d suggest you first set the mood. While you pull together your exercise equipment and change into your workout tights, start to visualize the scene.
Would you like to be surrounded by a wonderland of freshly fallen snow? If so, visualize snowflakes delicately collecting and coating the ground, trees and rooftops. Enjoy the captivating beauty and the coolness of winter on your skin as you move through your push-ups, squats, lunges, and burpees. Follow the link for a great workout!
Or is a crisp fall day your preferred season? If so, visualize the beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, and browns of the falling leaves. As they tumble to the ground, they leave the trees almost barren. With the coolness in the air, you can almost smell the earthy, autumn breeze. Mmm, beautiful. Enjoy your workout!
Our last healthy idea we’re calling:
The Project Playground
When I visited Michigan in the spring, I stayed with Beth during my visit. She has a lovely apartment near Michigan State University. During the cool of the mornings, we’d take our coffees outside to her patio and have wonderful conversations.
There is one thing, however, that’s a little concerning about her apartment. She has a wonderful, spacious laundry room that’s being held captive by. . .stuff. Loaded with plastic bins and shipping boxes, return bottles (yes, in Michigan they have a bottle deposit policy,) DIY projects, magazine collections, not to mention the fabric next to the overflow pantry items.
We started calling it “The Scary Room.”
Do you have a “scary room?” Most of us may not have a full-blown scary room, but surely, we have a scary closet, drawer, or cupboard.
The focus of the Project Playground is to identify an area in your house that could use a little TLC and get to work. Housework is one of the best ways to get your body moving.
However, you may just be in the 1% that doesn’t have a room that could use a good decluttering. No problem.
Work on a DIY project instead.
Just remember it’s not a DIY project done from a chair like finishing that sweater you started last fall. No, it’s an active project like wallpapering the bathroom, refinishing that wooden desk, or painting the baseboards. A project to get your heart rate up.
Pick a project that gives you a sweat, gives you steps, gives you movement.
There you have it. Our hope is that somewhere in these ideas you’re motivated to move your body regardless of the heat.
And as always, continue living your best life!
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