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Losing Weight: Beat the Heat

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Oswego chapter.

 Humidity can be both good and bad for those working out.

Whether you are running or walking outside, lifting weights, doing sit-ups or on the cardio machines at the gym, humidity is all around. Now that spring is in full swing, we have greater opportunities for shedding those pounds. But, you need to stay hydrated, no matter where you are.

I try to drink six to eight bottles of water a day. This keeps me hydrated enough where I don’t feel like I am going to pass out before, during or after an exhilarating workout. Any liquid is good, really, but water is the best, plus it’s zero calories. Try not to drink soda. I’m not a soda fan myself, but from looking around at my friends, they are always thirsty after drinking the stuff.

 A friend found out a few years ago on the Internet that soda actually dehydrates you; causing you to be thirstier. For me, personally, juices cause stomach cramps. Oh, and do not work out on an empty stomach. It’s not so bad if you exercise about an hour or two after you roll out of bed, but not when you’ve been up for awhile. Take it from me; I did that once and will never do it again! I could barley finish my normal workout without feeling like I was going to faint.

The same thing also happened to me when I only had coffee before my workout and not at least one full glass of water. So remember the key lessons here: always stay hydrated, whether it’s before, during, or after a workout, and remember to eat something before exercising, especially if you have been up for a few hours. Good luck! I will weigh in next Wednesday! 

Samantha Shelton is a senior at SUNY Oswego with a dual major in journalism and creative writing. Hailing from a super small town that doesn't even have a stop light, Samantha enjoys soccer, spinning and trying any flavor of frozen yogurt imaginable! She has been the Managing Editor of her student newspaper, The Oswegonian, and completed the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) summer internship program in 2010 at FITNESS magazine. Samantha recently launched Ed2010 at Oswego State, a national networking organization that helps students break into the magazine industry. These days, (when she’s not running from class to class) you can find Samantha at the campus fitness centers, where she works as the PR student manager and a personal trainer; working with Colleges Against Cancer to help find a cure; or in a comfy cafe chair reading her latest pile of magazines.