Working out is working out, right?

Wrong.

Depending on the environmental conditions where you live,

there may be extra precautions that you'll want to consider when

trying to lose weight by following a healthy diet and weight

loss program.

High Altitudes

High altitude environments have less available oxygen then those

closer to sea level. One of the effects of such altitude is that

the heart must beat faster in order to do the job of delivering

oxygen to the muscle tissues both while active and at rest.

Depending on the specific altitude and corresponding acitivity,

heart rates may soar as high as 50% above normal. Also, side

effects like hyperventilation, dizziness, insomnia, weakness,

headache, and irratability are also common in such an

environment.

Because of these possible outcomes, people who exercise in high

altitudes will definitely want to consult a local physician for

clearance before beginning their weight loss exercise program,

and may want to lower the intensity of their weight loss

cardiovascular activity---especially if they are beginners.

People living in high altitudes will also want to get medical

clearance before trying any diet pills, diet patch, or any other

weight loss product(s) that may elevate the heart rate to

eliminate risk of more complicated health concerns.

Exercising in Extreme Heat

Under normal circumstances, the body's temperature is at or

around 98°. In areas that have very high temperatures (around

100° or more), the body must adjust to maintain the proper

temperature by transferring some of its heat back into the

environment.

The primary result of this reaction is that he heart rate will

be higher than normal, similar to the effect of being in high

altitudes. To best aid the body in maintaining its normalcy

under such conditions, make sure to drink 3 to 6 oz. of water

for every 10 to 15 minutes of weight loss activity and allowing

as much sweat to evaporate as possible. It is also important to

wear as close to 100% cotton garments as well as stray away from

rubberized or water-proof garments that will prevent sweat

evaporation. Light colors should also be worn.

Exercising in the Cold

To the surprise as many, water replenishment is just as

important in the cold as it is in much warmer environments.

The fact of the matter is that water is lost as vapor as inhaled

during cardiovascular exercise and other activities that help

you to ultimately lose weight. There is also a risk of losing

too much body heat once you are done exercising.

To best be prepared to exercise in order to lose weight fast

while living in cold environments, make sure to dress in layers

to insulate body heat and drink plenty of water. Also wear a hat

to limit the amount of body heat that escapes through the head,

which is where most body heat is lost from.

To YourBestBody,

Lawrence Cole

Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach YourBestBodyNOW.com

About the author:

See this Weight Loss

article on YourBestBodyNOW.com

Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based out of

Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and fitness

experience and designing simple, effective nutritional

strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best

internal health and physical conditioning.