Exercise Safety | Fitness and Freebies

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Try these tips to exercise safely!

Stop exercising right away if you:

Have pain or pressure in the left-chest or mid-chest area -- or left neck, shoulder, or arm
Feel dizzy or sick
Break out in a cold sweat
Have muscle cramps
Feel pain in your joints, feet, ankles, or legs. You could hurt yourself if you ignore the pain.

(Ask your health care provider what to do if you have any of these symptoms.)

Slow down if out of breath. You should be able to talk while exercising without gasping for breath.
Drink lots of water before, during, and after exercise (even water workouts) to replace the water you lose by sweating.
Do not do hard exercise for 2 hours after a big meal (but a 5- to 10-minute walk is OK). If you eat small meals, you can exercise more often.

Wear the right clothes:

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting tops so you can move easily.
Women should wear a good support bra.
Wear supportive athletic shoes for weight-bearing activities.
Wear clothes made of fabrics that absorb sweat and remove it from your skin.
Never wear rubber or plastic suits. These could hold the sweat on your skin and make your body overheat.
Wear a knit hat to keep you warm when you exercise outdoors in cold weather. Wear a baseball cap in hot weather to help keep you cool.
Wear sunscreen when you exercise outdoors. Cover all areas of exposed skin whenever outdoors.