Last year, Ma’ Earth shattered the benchmark for the hottest year in recorded history.
And meteorologists say there is a “99% chance” 2016 will best it.
Which means, in short order, that this summer is going to suck.
But don’t sweat it. We asked a variety of fitness experts, athletes and health professionals — people who are used to dealing with the adverse effects of heat — how to stay cool during summer’s doggiest days.
Obviously, Drink Water
It seems obvious because it is: H2O (and plenty of it) is essential, especially when the merc’s pushing three digits. “The best way to stay cool is to stay hydrated,” says Gwen Lawrence, yoga teacher to the New York Giants. If you’re not hydrated and you’re doing exercise outside, you’re at risk for overheating, headaches and heat stroke. A good rule of thumb: drink water 15 minutes before exercising and eight ounces of water for every 20 minutes working out.
Do a Deep Freeze
Stack the freezer with water bottles, says James Scully, SWERVE Fitness cycling instructor. “They’re frozen when I take them out and stay cold all day. If it gets super hot, I’ll roll the frozen bottle around my neck to cool down.”
Go for a Cold One
Nope, not a beer. Rather, hit a cold shower ASAP after any heat-inducing activities. “It can get pretty hot in the studio, so I take a cold shower right after exercising. It stops the sweat,” says Scully. Ice up your shower even more by using cooling products like Rituals Samurai Ice Shower Gel, a post-exercise wash with a minty, cooling effect that lasts for hours.
The Iceman Cometh
Soak both feet in a bucket of cold water with ice. Heat radiates from the hands, feet, face and ears. Cooling these parts will effectively cool down the rest of the body. Another option is to run cold water over your wrists for 10 seconds. This reduces temperature for about an hour.
Heads Up
There’s a reason construction workers and bikers wear bandanas. Protecting the back of the neck and head, where the sensors for body temperature lie, can “trick” the rest of the body into thinking it’s cool. (Pro tip: An ice cold neck “cooling wrap” will also do the trick.)
Get Botox
Not joking. Ryan Nickulas, a men’s grooming expert, swears by Botox to stop sweat in the armpits when summer rolls around. As explained by plastic surgeon Dr. Z Paul Lorenc, Botox can be “injected into the sweat glands to relax the muscles and help combat excessive sweating — this can be useful where people typically suffer from excessive sweating, such as the armpits, hands or even on the hairline.”
Extreme temps call for extreme measures, gentlemen.
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