Did you know that August 7 - 13th is Exercise with Your Child Week? With school right around the corner, finding fun ways to exercise with your children this week will give them wonderful summer memories. Get creative!
Some ideas:
Go for a bike ride
Walk at the park
Organize a scavenger hunt
Have a dance party
Play catch in the backyard
And of course, don't forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated!
Summertime is a fun time to go to ball games and enjoy the outdoors. If you and your family are out and about, you want to be sure to not only drink enough water but also get electrolytes so you can continue to enjoy your summer activities without muscle cramps or feeling drained. Many sports drinks have electrolytes, but be sure to check the label if you are counting your calories. You can also find some flavored waters that have electrolytes with little to no calories.
Be aware of the hot and humid conditions this summer so that you don’t experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. To prevent any of these conditions, drink adequate amounts of fluid. Avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the day. The best time to do physical activity is when the sun is not so high in the sky. You can gauge this by making sure that your shadow is taller than you. If you believe someone is experiencing a heat stroke it is important to call 911 immediately.
The summer heat can take a major toll on one’s body. With a majority of the body being made up of water, it is important that an individual consumes adequate amounts of it a day. One of water’s main functions is to regulate body temperature and this happens through sweating. The more you sweat the more you need to hydrate. By staying hydrated you can maintain your performance and reduce the risk of heat illnesses. In 2004, the Food and Nutrition Board released new dietary reference intakes for water which stated that women need 91 ounces and men need 125 ounces. These recommendations can increase, however, in the summer when you are sweating. Signs of moderate dehydration are a dry mouth, sleepiness, thirst, decreased urine output, dry skin, and headaches. If you experience these symptoms, you should consider sports drinks that replace the salts and electrolytes that you may lose. Stay safe this summer, and beat the heat!
I'm often asked about finding good shoes, and even made a video about it. When you're shopping for summer footwear, remember what to look for:
Arch support
Heel support
Shock-absorbing material in the sole
Soft, non-irritating material in the uppers
I'm not saying you have to wear leather shoes in the summer or only athletic shoes. Look for summer shoes with the above-listed criteria. Don't settle for inferior footwear.
I don't like to see people wearing flip-flops or flimsy sandals because I know the injury and pain these type of shoes can cause. Wearing flip-flops on the beach or by the pool is fine. What's a bad deal is wearing them everywhere--all the time--in all kinds of weather and activity. Flips-flops aren't made to give proper protection or support to the foot. Consistent flip-flop wearers are more at risk for injury and pain.
Buying supportive footwear now can help you avoid pain and injury later. Also, if you invest in sturdy footwear, you won't need to pay for medical care later. When it comes to everyday footwear, flip-flops are just flops.
