Beat the Heat: Stay Hydrated!

I know, I Know! A blog post about the heat already? Personally, I was thinking the same thing. As I write this, it’s June 1st and we have had about 3 days with temperatures over 15 degrees. But you needn’t worry. Within a month we will all be complaining that “she’s splittin’ the rocks outside” and the humidity “is enough to kill ya”. For many of us, this is an uncomfortable time of the year to work out. Many buildings do not have air conditioning and the humidity certainly does seem to instantaneously zap your strength.

So what are you options to deal with the heat and humidity? Perhaps you think that quitting training for the summer might help. While this may seem like a comfortable solution, you certainly aren’t going to make many gainz this summer if the only bicep curls you do involve lifting a beer can to your mouth. Well, you will make some gains but not the type that you will want to show off in all those sleeveless shirts and dresses you bought for the sunny summer days.

So obviously quitting isn’t actually an option but what can you do?

Make sure you stay hydrated!!

Okay, easy enough, but how much should you drink? Maybe you heard on Dr. Oz that you should drink 8 glasses of water per day. This is a good start but it is more of a recommendation for the “general population”, you know, the kind of people that get no regular physical activity.

The amount of water that an active individual should drink is dependent on the amount of weight they lose through perspiration (sweating) each workout. To determine an exact amount, you could weigh yourself before and after the workout, note the difference and adjust your water intake accordingly. Seem complex? That’s because it is! Too simplify, a man weighing between 180-200 pounds should drink about 400 mL of water every 20 minutes during exercise. A woman weighing between 130-150 pounds should drink about 300 mL of water every 20 minutes. This will likely feel like too much water. It doesn’t matter though, thirst is a poor indicator of hydration level.

The Take Home Message

To keep exercising in the summer, ensure you stay properly hydrated
General guidelines suggest 8 glasses of water per day
This is not enough for an individual engaging in strenuous physical activity
For Men: Drink 400 mL every 20 minutes during exercise
For Women: Drink 300 mL every 20 minutes during exercise

Prepared for the JKC blog by Coach Thomas

Mike Noseworthy

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

JKC was recommended to me by my good friend Casidhe Dyke. Cas had been training with JKC for a while, and both he and his father had seen great results from the personal training that Jon and Thomas were giving them. I was and still am primarily a triathlete and I’ve always struggled with injuries. I was talking to Cas about incorporating more strength training in my program to try and prevent injuries going forward and Cas suggested that I give JKC a try. I reached out to Jon not long after, and the rest is history! After working with Jon and Thomas for a few months, I was getting stronger, faster, and most importantly, I was staying injury-free. I ended up being able to train the whole season without significant injury and posted a personal best at Ironman Copenhagen in 2018. A big part of that was due to the strength training and coaching I received at JKC.

Krissy Hussey

I originally joined JKC because I was anxious about passing out and embarrassing myself since I hadn’t weight trained in a while and I’d hoped to find somewhere sympathetic. My husband @terry_hussey had been training at JKC and his success there made me miss the achievement you feel from a good workout. I went to meet Jon and immediately knew it was going to be a safe space for me. I was never judged for the fears I had and where I was starting from. Jon and Thomas made sure to check on me often, and found a way to challenge me but make me feel secure at the same time, and Terry and I were able to book sessions together, so working out became a shared win for us!

JKC is different from other gyms because of the personal growth you have outside JKC (the sessions inside JKC creates a great positive feedback loop!). You gain self confidence, learn how to show up for yourself, meet a community of newfound friends, and get the support of your trainers who are behind you 100%. I’ve left a scattered workout so proud of myself I’ve honestly shed a tear in the car on the drive home. JKC is the mental health relief valve I need to stay positive, and keep my anxiety and health related fears at bay.

Lloyd Hussey

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I started at JKC in January of 2014 and I’m 67 years old. When I had my Initial Assessment, I knew – almost immediately – that Jon knew what he was doing and what he was talking about. I was overweight, out of shape, and in serious need of someone, like Jon, who could get me back on a fitness/conditioning routine that suited me, my age, my less than acceptable physical condition, my sometimes intermittent RA, and my need for a structured, consistent and yet flexible training and conditioning program that would work for me.

Fundamentally, if I made a choice at all with respect to JKC – it was to continue to come back each week. I have not been in a lot of gyms. To be honest, they used to intimidate me. What makes JKC different is their approach to each and every one of their clients. Jon and Thomas – and now Craig – tailor each training regime to the particular needs of each client. That ensures that the training regime will suit each client upon the start of training and changes as the client improves. It adjusts for any physical setbacks such as injuries and it adjusts for success. It is just that simple.

It is also the consistent encouragement that comes from Jon, Thomas and Craig. That voice that comes to you while you are in the middle of a particularly difficult set – rear-foot elevated split squats comes to mind immediately – that says “good job” or “keep it up” or “just a couple more reps.” To know, in that moment, that you are not alone and the trainer is paying attention to what you are doing. That is priceless for me.

Kyle Howlett

I had always wanted to start lifting weights and get stronger, but didn’t know where to start. I was looking not just for a gym, but for training on proper technique to prevent injury and a program designed for my specific goals. I also wanted a fun and supportive atmosphere to keep me coming back. JKC delivered on all of this and more.

Jon and Thomas have a wealth of knowledge that help their clients get the most out of their time in the gym. Programs are continuously modified to keep the workouts challenging. Even through everyone’s program is unique, you always have the coaches and other clients cheering you on and pushing you to achieve new bests.

Dawn Armstrong

A few of my wonderful friends and colleagues recommended JKC. I was told by one colleague that “It’ll be the best thing you ever do for yourself” and she was right! To be honest, I didn’t have much experience in any gym setting. And NO prior weight training experience. It was always so overwhelming! But from the first day, nothing was intimidating about JKC. Each workout is set up just for me, and with my specific skills and goals in mind. There are no stupid questions, you learn as you go, and what I really love, I always feel included and important, regardless of my skills/experience.

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