MMA Fight: A Surprising Benefit Of Training In The Heat

Training in the heat offers a lot of advantages, ranging from the improvement of aerobic exercise performance to an increase in body fitness and much more. According to research, heat acclimation helps in improving power output in trained cyclists by 5% and increases blood plasma volume by 6.5%. Additionally, training in the heat increases VO2 by 5% in a cool temperature while it increases by 8% in a hot temperature. In addition, when you train regularly at a high temperature, your rowing performance increases and improves.

Using the sauna directly after training has a myriad of benefits for MMA fighters ranging from increased aerobic endurance, reduced resting heart rate, and improved heart rate recovery.

There are other advantages training in the heat provides. This article explores some of the surprising benefits of training in the heat:

Boosts Fitness

One of the significant advantages of training in the heat is that it dramatically increases fitness. Besides improving the rate of perspiration, exercise in the heat increases an athlete’s blood plasma volume, leading to better cardiovascular fitness.

Training in the heat also helps in reducing blood lactate, increasing skeletal muscle force, and much more. Athletes who train themselves in the heat tend to be more physically and mentally fit than those who work out in cold climates. This is because training yourself in the heat increases your body’s adaptability rate and makes you perform well in any climatic condition. There are lots of training in the heat: running tips for training in summer resources that you can easily use to increase your fitness as an athlete.

Increases Flexibility

Another function of training in the heat is that it may help you become more flexible and helps you bend. The heat helps in loosening muscles and gives an extension of the range of motion. It gives you the ability to take a more challenging position which is essential in the case of yoga.

Reduces Calories

One of the vital benefits of training in the heat is that it may help burn calories. It takes more energy to work out in a hot environment than in a cold environment. And it has been scientifically proven that heat helps suppress appetites while working out in a cold environment increases them. If you are an athlete and need to burn some calories, you should start training yourself in the heat. You will lose a lot of calories in no time.

Increases the Ability to Cool Yourself

Training in the heat helps in cooling the body. This is because one of the proven methods of cooling the body is through the pumping of blood to the skin’s surface. When you frequently

expose and train your body in heat, it initiates this process at a lower temperature, eventually resulting in a more effective cooling method.

Improves Blood Lactate

Your lactate threshold determines the limit of your aerobic capacity. Training in the heat may help improve heat tolerance and, as a result, enhance lactate. Heat acclimation helps in increasing the lactate threshold in a cool environment.

In addition, heat training can help expand blood plasma volume. Research on heat acclimation response in athletes found that those who train in warm temperatures regulate sweat better than those who don’t. This is because they would sweat earlier or have a colder resting temperature.

Increases Mental Strength

When you train in the heat, it would demand more focus and concentration than when you train in a cool temperature. Heat increases your heart rate, increasing your race of perceived exertion and your pace range. Exercising in the heat may help you be mentally and physically prepared and give you an edge in adaptability.

Helps In Adapting Physically

Another benefit of training in the heat is that it helps you adapt physically to any heat condition. Suppose you are an athlete and find running quite challenging in hot climatic conditions. In that case, it’s advisable to embrace training in the heat because it would make you more physically adaptable and help you compete more efficiently. Regularly working out in the heat will allow your body to dissipate heat more effectively. Doing aerobics in the heat leads to a chain of reactions of adaptation within the body. It helps increase your plasma volume, myocardial efficiency, and much more.

Physical Gains

Another significant benefit of training in the heat is that it may provide physical gains. This happens in the sense that it dramatically increases the stress load on your body, having a positive impact on your current and future performance. For instance, some athletes find it easier to race when they have adapted to changing temperatures and conditions.

Psychological Benefits

Another huge benefit of training in the heat is its psychological benefits. Training in the heat not only provides physical benefits but also has a psychological impact on you. There are a lot of psychological benefits when you work out, as you consistently push your limits. It helps you get comfortable with discomfort in competition and training. You are not just working out your body but also exercising your brain.

In Conclusion

The benefits and advantages of heat training in endurance performance are numerous. Whether competing in warm or cold climates, heat training can significantly maximize your performance. Training in the heat helps your body adapt to a broader range of temperatures and boosts your mental, psychological, and physical well-being while preparing for competitions.