CLA 500

It’s that time of the year where everyone is sweating, not because we want to, but in 100-degree weather, we don’t really have a choice. It’s that kind of sweat where we have to towel off after we towel off.

So why not use it to our advantage and get a good sweat on? We have some great parks around town that are perfect for a dirty, sweaty, outdoor workout.

First thing, let’s talk sweat prep. No one wants to smell last night’s Tikka Masala through your Dri-FIT ensemble, so be kind to your workout partner and limit foods like curry, onions, garlic and heavy spices the day before your sweat-it-out workout.

Also, hydrate like crazy — like, way more than you think you should — the day before and the day of this workout. Whatever water you normally take with you, double it.

You can even make your own hydrating drink by mixing one part coconut water, three parts water, a pinch of Himalayan salt and a squeeze of lime. Coconut water has potassium, which helps maintain fluid levels in our bodies, and sodium helps to retain water. Even though we are trying to sweat hard, we still want to stay hydrated.

Oh, and if you haven’t used Himalayan salt yet, you’re missing out! This stuff has tons of essential elements in it for body function, and it has that lovely 1980s Barbie Beach House hue.

For the runners reading this right now, a great place to sweat is basically anywhere outside. But I especially like the Bay Bluffs Preserve off Scenic Highway for elevation and trail running. Plus, no one drives past us cringing at how miserable we all look in this heat.

This type of run adds some agility training into an average elevation run. Our town is fairly flat, and elevation change isn’t very sharp unless it’s sought out. A great route is from the main parking lot at Summit Boulevard down the boardwalk. Cut out of the boardwalk and run through the small, wooded trail off to the right all the way to the other boardwalk. Go up and back down and then enjoy a cool down run along the bay in the sand. Shoes optional for the sand run if you like running barefoot, but watch for rocks, they’ll get you!

But for the CrossFit exercises, there is a really cool circuit training sandpit with a wall climb, monkey bars, balance beams and all types of other stuff that I don’t know the proper names for, like an angled bar that you climb from a six-foot to a ten-foot elevation that makes you realize how hard it is to move the weight of your own body. There is loads of fun equipment like that.

For added hard work — not that you’ll necessarily need it — you can take empty coffee containers with handles to fill up with sand while you’re there for weights, and just dump them out before you leave. Taking some resistance bands to wrap around the poles to practice stretching and stability exercises is an easy choice, and I’m sure there’s a way to hook up a TRX suspension kit onto the equipment for some suspension training. Or just take your favorite log with you.

For folks that prefer to just “do what feels right” and build a workout as you go, I suggest going to Bayview Park on Bayou Texar by the boat launch. There is a perfect area between the tiny white amphitheater and the fence to the tennis court to do uphill climbs and sprints. The little amphitheater itself is great for stretches, warm ups, lunges, jumping exercises, wall push-ups and too many other things to name — so really, just do what feels right.

There are also a bunch of different boot camp-style groups that meet at Parks that you might want to get involved in. If you see a group that looks right for you, approach the drill instructor after the class is over and get their info! I’m sure they would be happy to have another trainee in the group — especially you, because you are awesome.

These are just a few ideas to use our summertime to sweat wisely. Did you know that people that exercise outdoors get a boost of confidence, especially when pouring sweat? Fresh air, sunshine, greenery and a great workout are sure to make you feel like a boss for the rest of the day!

So now to answer the question on everyone’s mind: Do we burn more fat and/or calories in the heat? The answer is that we do indeed burn more calories, because the heart works harder to pump hot blood to the surface of the skin to get cooled down by your now-sweaty exterior.

But it’s really not that much of a change. Having five extra heartbeats per minute won’t burn enough to make a huge difference. And as for fat, most research out there suggests that our bodies prefer burning carbs in high heat instead of fat, which is actually great for our breakfast choice: If you had planned on having a low-carb breakfast, you can splurge! Have a whole grain bagel or waffle sandwich. It will give you the fuel your body wants to burn in the heat.

Here’s the thing: If you give your body the fuel it wants, you get to exercise longer, and that is what burns fat. Now, don’t ruin your diet with this advice. All I’m suggesting is if you have a certain amount of carbs allotted for the day, you should eat them before you exercise, and only if they are quality carbohydrates. Choosing a breakfast or lunch with whole grains or “slow carbs” in it before the workout — rather than an ice cream sandwich or beer after — is way more effective at burning fat, even if the foods contain the same amount of carbs. It’s not fair, but it’s true, and it works.

So don’t reward yourself with a post workout treat, pre-reward yourself with some workout fuel to get out there and get burning!