Beautiful weather has finally arrived in New England and with it, my annual bought of sneezing, running nose and itchy eyes. June is my least favorite month of the year. Some part of me wants to skip my workout, curl up on the couch with a box of Kleenex and watch TV in the relative comfort of my air conditioned living room. But then how tired and out-of-shape will I feel by July? The show must go on, so here are some tips for fellow allergy sufferers on how to stay fit throughout the season:
- Bookmark a site that shows your local pollen forecast. Once you know which days will be worse for your allergies you can plan ahead for alternate workouts.
- Escape the misery lurking outside by trying an indoor workout. You could hit the gym, take a class, or try an at-home video (Netflix actually has several you can stream). A certified personal trainer can help you find creative ways to get a great workout in the comfort of your home.
- Time your outdoor workouts to minimize allergen exposure. Most pollens are worse mid-day, so early morning bike rides or evening jogs may be more comfortable.
- Clean off that pollen as soon as you get inside. Leave your sneakers at the door, change your clothes, shower and wash your hair. You don't want to track pollen through the house, or worse, get it on your pillow!
- Many people are dealing with both allergies and asthma. The American College of Sports Medicine encourages asthma sufferers to perform longer warm-ups and cool-downs (15 minutes) to reduce the chances of complications from exercise-induced asthma.
- For your safety, make sure you carry any prescribed rescue inhalers, epi-pens, etc when exercising outdoors. If you're unsure, check with your doctor about any precautions you should take.
Allergy season is miserable for many of us, but with a little effort and planning you can get through it without sacrificing fitness. In the long run, exercise will keep you feeling better and more energized. Stick with it - you can reach your goals and feel great!
