What should an athlete do to maintain maximum body cooling during exercise in the heat?

Answer 1

Things to Consider When Exercising in the Cold

Exercising in the cold can be a good thing if you do it correctly and safely. For example, cold weather can increase your metabolic rate by your shivering and also by an increase in adrenaline. Also, it seems that the cold will push you into a stage of increased energy. Have you ever jumped in a pool when it was freezing cold? Wasn't it your first instinct to move around quickly in order to warm yourself up and get adjusted to the cool temperature? See, it can't be too bad of a thing to exercise in the cold...

Although several precautions should be taken when doing so...

Exercise in cold weather or conditions will increase your likeliness of acquiring a cold or sickness, especially when you start to sweat and there is a cold wind present. It is best to wear a toboggan or earmuffs to cover your ears.

But believe it or not, one of the most commonly made mistakes is overdressing. It is good to layer, but not wear THICK layers. A thermal undershirt, a long sleeved water repellent exercise top, and perhaps a sweat shirt on top with tight jogging shorts and maybe a pair of sweat pants underneath or above. It is best to layer so that you can shed layers but not wear extremely thick layers. You will get warm if you are exercising hard enough and it's never good to overheat your body when exercising.

Your hands and feet should be kept extra warm... even more so than other parts of your body. This is where you are more likely to experience frostbite. Some warning signs of frost bite are paleness, numbness, and loss of feeling or stinging sensation.

It may not seem like exercising in the cold is as challenging or requires as much fluids and energy as exercising in the dead heat of the summer, but it will require just as much energy and therefore just as much fluids. Make sure to hydrate well even before and AFTER exercising in the cold.

Keep in mind if there is any wind blowing and if you are running or cycling or such to plan on ending your work out and cooling off the sweat before you turn facing the wind. Allow it to blow on your back while doing your actual work out.

Answer 2

Stay hydrated. Wear light colored, loose clothing- cotton or a fiber that will wick up perspiration to help it evaporate, avoid direct sunlight where possible.

Answer 3

Dress in multiple layers, including a wicking material clostedtto the skin

Answer 4

By drinking Gatorade or Powerade because they give you lots of energy.