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I live in Dallas. I weigh 250 and I'm 40. I've been trying to get in shape by walking five miles one day and biking 5 miles the next. I'm currently having a tremendous problem with pain in my hips and back which is seemingly caused by the heat and humidity. If the humidity is low, say 27%, no pain.When I bike at 5am its been about 75* with 95% humidity.
What can I do to alleviate this pain. The humidity is horrible and really takes my breath away. My doctors have done various tests and my only problem is my weight.
High humidity makes it harder for your body to cool itself. Your going to sweat more and are probably overdoing it. If you're out of breath, then you're heart rate is probably getting too high for aerobic exercise. Slow down. On muggy days, try easing up some until you get into better shape.
Also, make sure you are not pushing too high a gear especially up hills. You may be straining your back if you're pushing too hard.
Consider getting a heart rate monitor and use it to guide your exertion. Try to keep your heartrate below 80% of the maximum for your age.
Good luck with your efforts. You've taken the hardest step - getting started.
I live in Orlando Florida. It is pretty humid here too and it gets reasonably hot. I find that during the summer I have trouble with the heat.
In high humidity, when you sweat, sweat does not evaporate, so it does almost no good at all and dehydrates you to boot. When I stop at a light, I often leave a small puddle of sweat. In low humidity, perspiration will wick off almost immediately cooling one off efficiently. I find if I go through a gallon of water, I need to eat some salt to compensate for the sodium I have sweated out. Otherwise, I get weakness, nausea and finally disorientation. I have read the next symptoms are convulsions and then death but I haven't felt the need to push that far yet.
So if sweat does not work, how does the body cool off. Well, your body shunts almost all of your blood flow to the skin in an attempt to put that hot blood right up to the "cooler?" air to cool off. The problem with this, is at high temperatures and humidity, you don't get as much blood to the working muscles so they are probably oxygen starved. Oddly enough, this can actually have a "bonus". I have found that training in the summer in Orlando is great conditioning for high altitude riding. I have ridden at over 12,000' and not had any serious problem. At high altitudes, it is usually cool so most of my blood flow goes to the muscles.
I find the effect to be much less if I lose weight down to my low part of my weight range (190lbs). At that weight, I have less insulating fat and seem to vent out heat much better.
Here in Central Florida, organized century rides tend to end in May and you don't have any in June, July or August. They start up again in September. Maybe that tells you something.
I have ridden in low humidity areas. Here in Orlando, at 85 degrees, it is generally uncomfortably warm unless you are in AC. I was in Loveland, Colorado and at 85 degrees, it was quite pleasant in the shade.
I would advise, backing off on warm days. Riding in the cool part of the day. And riding a bit slower and for less time.
Speaking of electrolytes...anyone know of home electrolyte tester?