Day 2 of Summer, and Still Hating It

It is too hot to move.

I’m supposed to go to the gym or doing some form of exercise daily, but today, I am the very definition of sluggish.

It’s not that I hurt all over from yesterday (I do). It’s not that I’m lazy. It’s the heat, which according to the temperature thingie in my car remained north of 95 degrees since noon.

You’ll recall my near-death experience at the Komen 5K about 10 days ago. (The heat makes me melodramatic.) Lately I’ve been wondering if my brain is getting fried by the sun – you know, a little singed each time I go to the mall, or to Barnes& Noble, or the mall with the Barnes & Noble.

Surely if it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, it’s hot enough to cause brain damage, right? I mean, this is the time of year the sun is closest to the earth, and what part of your body is closest to the sun? I rest my case.

But seriously . . . I’ve been in and out of the heat all day, running errands, getting my naps tightened, stopping by the post office – and about that last one: When was the last time you actually went to the post office? I swear it was like a trip back in time – thither and yon, for hours. Afterward I wanted a nap. Weird.

This is what Google says about cows and heat: It’s not just the overweight; heat can make anyone tired. When your body heats up, your metabolism revs because it’s trying to regulate your temp, and all that energy being used slows you down and makes you sleepy. And less hungry.

The good thing about this is that the body is also burning calories. Unfortunately for me, I have a low heat tolerance, which is why I always carry water with me wherever I go.

Here’s the thing: I have a male friend who actually puts on sweats and goes walking on an outdoor track in heat like this, and he’s no lightweight. He’s tall and could stand to lose perhaps 50 pounds, yet actually enjoys doing this because it’s an effective workout for him.

So not fair.

Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.  ~  George Carlin

Leslie J. Ansley is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who blogs daily for TheRoot. She lives in Raleigh, NC.