How to Stay Motivated to Exercise (When It’s Hotter than a Fresh Cup of Coffee)
Plus, summer tastes so good with our Piña Colada smoothie.
If you live in Florida like us, you are no stranger to the scorching summer heat. When mid-July rolls around, many of us prefer to either hide in the sweet AC of our homes or put on a bathing suit and bask in the sun. The last thing we think about is raising our body temperature even more with exercise.
The fresh cup of hot coffee that brings you cozy comfort in our milder months might make you sweat at just the thought. Maybe you cringe at the idea of stepping outside in a sweatshirt. There are several things we give up during the summer months, but exercise shouldn’t be one of them!
When temperatures rise and the humidity feels like wading through water, Mr. Coffee Concierge steps in with tips for how to stay motivated to exercise when the heat swells.
Get strategic about your mindset
Get in character of the season
Train for the heat
Create a playlist that pumps you up
Get charged by the power of the sun
Stay nourished & hydrated (+ drink in our delicious piña colada summer smoothie recipe!)
Remember why you move
Let’s go!
1. Get Strategic about Your Mindset
Preparing yourself for an outdoor summer workout can take a lot of willpower, but with some sneaky mindset tricks, you can stay on top of your fitness grind.
Start by writing down 10 reasons why training in hot and humid conditions is a fantastic idea. If you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, begin with a simple ‘thought starter’ such as, “It’s good to work out in the heat because...”
Some ideas to get you going include:
I will sweat a lot, which will help detoxify my body
I will feel unstoppable and strong, mentally and physically, afterward
Jumping in a cold shower or pool will feel incredible as a reward
It’s like free Bikram or hot yoga
I look incredibly attractive in my new summer workout gear
I will be glowing with sweat like a fitness ad when I’m done
2. Get in Character of the Season
Oftentimes in the colder months, we find ourselves desperately craving heat and hiding from the cold altogether. Remember that feeling from a few months ago? Now that the sun is glaring down on us, use this time as an opportunity to enjoy summer-only hobbies. Your community likely has summer leagues, such as beach volleyball or golf.
Activities such as these can help you stay active without feeling like you’re ‘working out.’ Plus, it can be a great opportunity to meet some friends and soak in the swampiness together! Other options to explore include:
Lake, beach, or poolside yoga
Paddleboarding or yoga on the water
Neighborhood basketball or wiffle ball
Kayaking or rowing
Gardening or other yardwork
Hiking beneath the shade of a forest
3. Train for the Heat
In 2016, a study in Sports Science Exchange showed that acclimating before exposing yourself full-throttle to exercising in the heat lowers the stress impact on the body. It takes around 90 minutes a day for one to two weeks of exercising in hot conditions for the body to adjust.
If you’re not ready to commit to that kind of intensity, you can achieve a similar impact by soaking in a hot bath after working out for six days in a row! You can also jump in the sauna at your local gym. There are serious benefits to simply melting away...
4. Create a Playlist that Pumps You Up
Several studies have shown the positive impact of music on an exercise experience. With the right soundtrack, people will run farther, lift harder, and simply enjoy themselves more.
Spend some time curating a playlist that gets you excited to move and makes you feel like you can conquer anything!
5. Get Charged by the Power of the Sun
The sun might be the very thing tempting you to stay indoors, but shift your mindset to see the sun as a revitalizing source of energy! After being stuck indoors all winter, you are likely running low on vitamin D. Just think about how much of this powerful nutrient you’ll absorb by exercising outside.
Vitamin D contributes to serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that also acts as a hormone, which improves your mood and overall wellbeing. A vitamin D deficiency can cause a wide range of problems, so you want to get enough of this essential nutrient.
6. Stay Nourished & Hydrated
It can be difficult and even dangerous to exercise when you aren’t giving your body the nutrients it needs. This is especially true in hot conditions when your body is rapidly losing moisture. Staying properly hydrated and nourished is vital for your heart, kidney, and musculoskeletal wellbeing.
Make sure you’re drinking at least 17 to 20 ounces of water within two to three hours before exercising and an additional eight ounces right before you get moving. Continue drinking water during and after your exercise. Consider drinking coconut water or a sports drink to replenish electrolytes.
Want some extra flavor? Try this amazing tropical summer smoothie using our OG FENIX™ Creamy Vanilla nutritional shake mix.
Piña Colada Summer Smoothie
If paradise could fit in a glass, this would be it. With pineapple and coconut flavors, this smoothie will carry you off to a warm and sunny oasis.
Ingredients
½ cup fresh coconut meat
½ cup fresh chopped pineapple
½ cup pineapple juice
½ cup coconut water
1 frozen banana
1 scoop OG FENIX™ Creamy Vanilla
Directions
Add all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour it into a glass and decorate with a cocktail umbrella. Paradise awaits! Plus, you’ll be super hydrated and nourished!
Get inspired by more delicious recipes by Mr. Coffee Concierge! Can’t get enough? Shop our organic products!
While We Have You > How to Use Routine to Boost Your Productivity
7. Remember Why You Move
As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, mindset truly is everything. It’s easy to come up with excuses for why you ‘can’t’ exercise, but keep in mind that the only reason you’re making excuses is because you know it’s what you should be doing.
Try to see exercise as a way to manage your stress instead of seeing it as a chore or something to avoid. View it as an opportunity to free your mind from the stressors of daily life. See being drenched in sweat as your body detoxifying instead of as something that’s going to make you feel gross.
By shifting your mindset around exercise, you’re far more likely to sustain a good routine – even in the blazing heat of summer.
Feel the Burn with Mr. Coffee Concierge
We get it... exercising during the dog days of summer isn’t always a fun time. But think of how amazing and accomplished you will feel once you’ve faced the heat!
A good workout routine starts with good energy levels. You’ve fortunately come to the right place. At Mr. Coffee Concierge, we specialize in organic coffee blends and nutritional shakes that contain the healing benefits of Reishi mushrooms. With Mr. Coffee Concierge, you’re on the path to stellar health and endless summer bliss!
Try our comforting and flavorful nutrition-packed products today!