Does exercising in hot weather really burn more calories?

When summer arrives and the day is clear and sunny, it can be exhilarating to exercise outdoors. After all, who wants to stare at the four walls of a gym when you can experience the sights and sounds of summer as your feet hit the pavement?

Exercising outdoors in the open air not only benefits the body, but clears the mind as well. When the weather is warm outside, some people choose to exercise outside in the belief that they’ll burn more fat and get a more effective workout. Is there any truth to this? Does exercising in hot weather really burn more calories?

Yes, it does appear to increase calorie burn, but don't get too excited.
Let me explain below:

When it’s hot outside, your heart has to pump harder to cool off the hard working muscles

along with the rest of the body. It does this by pumping more blood to the extremities so that the heat can be released in the form of sweat. If you stop to check your heart rate when exercising in hot weather, you’ll usually find that it’s higher than when you do the same routine under cooler conditions.

Since exercising in the heat also places additional stress on the heart, it provides more cardiovascular and fat burning benefits. Similarly in the winter your body needs to work harder to raise your core temperature (98.6 F) by shivering which burns calories. However, I am not saying standing outside in high or low temperature's will make you  lose 10lbs, but you will burn a small amount of additional calories

TAKE PRECAUTIONS:

• Dress in light breathable tops in high temperatures and wear a hat to protect scalp

• Avoid direct sunlight and/or excessive heat by staying in the shade or trails.

• Workout in the morning or late evening to avoid peak sun rays

• If you have diabetes or high blood pressure you should be extra careful about overexerting yourself during the summer months. 

• Stay Hydrated*

Exposure to high heat and humidity can result in heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke.

REMEMBER TO STAY HYDRATED!!! 

Before Exercise: Drink 8 ounces of water 30 minutes prior
to class.

During Bootcamp: SIP between 12 - 24 ounces of water. 

After Bootcamp: Drink 8 ounces of water in the 30 minutes following class