[Magnulus]

Florida has very intense sunlight, which makes exercise problematic or unsafe. I have walked around down here in 97 degree weather for a couple miles. Let's just say it is better with Gatorade.

Also, an area like Orlando is one of the most dangerous for pedestrians. There are many places that walking is impractical or will get you a lungful of car exhaust. Contrast this with a city like Denver that has alot of sidewalks, a temperate climate with less rain, and it is no wonder that people in Colorado are much healthier.

[mystree]

i always found it ironic how most of the people in "oh so beautiful climate" florida never walk anywhere! yet in most of the colder states people are out and about.

alot of areas dont even have sidewalks here.

sprawl is bad for your health.

Thats true here in SC too,but in PA. everyone was out and about.

[ssg II]

Originally Posted by macguy

When it comes to exercise it is in most cases healthier in a controlled environment. Running down the road breathing car fumes and sweating like crazy is not that good. You can develop hyperthermia as well as deplete your body of electrolytes even suffer heart failure. It happens to high school football players as well as pro players down here every year. Much less some over weight guy trying to lose a few pounds pounding up and down the sidewalk in front of his house. I would not call your advice very sound. It's not a macho thing just common sense, It gets hot down here.

Please, don't think I'm advocating strenuous exercise on blacktop in 100' weather! I don't run and didn't say anything about running. Just saying people can get light to moderate exercise outside if they're willing to sweat!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by ssg II

Please, don't think I'm advocating strenuous exercise on blacktop in 100' weather! I don't run and didn't say anything about running. Just saying people can get light to moderate exercise outside if they're willing to sweat!

I threw in that part about the football players because I have seen the articles. But later I googled "football player drops dead. I could not believe how many it actually is.

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by ssg II

Obviously, if you're in ill health, you shouldn't be out in this kind of heat and humidity.

Everybody else is a bunch of "Weenies!" I'm a 53 year-old woman and the only exercise I do in AC is pilates at the gym or my Soloflex Rockit at home (and that's not usually in AC... I turn it off every morning and open the windows.) My block has 12 lots and I mow, edge & weed-whack 9 of them. I ride my bike all over the neighborhood.

Why do people move to Florida & then want to AC their lives?

Good for you! Last year I turned off the air conditioner, and struggled through September-November than the cool weather came and I was very happy! I do all my own home labor for myself and my parents. But this year, this month I finally gave up and flipped the air conditioner thermostat to "ON". The heat and humidity keeps me from sleeping, and I gained a whole bunch of fat from June-August. Even the cats were half-dead from the heat. Now that the air conditioner is on, the cats are frisky again. 90% of my outside work I do from December-March.

[SouthernBelle3]

I had a treadmill, but it was so loud I couldn't hear the tv, so I got rid of it. I need to invest in a good exercise bike but I cannot afford it right now. I was walking when it was cooler, but I often work in the heat, and when I come home, I have no desire to be outside for the rest of the day. You people who work outside know what I mean. The heat really drains the life out of a person.

[ssg II]

I actually ran tests in my home. I wanted to see if my electric bill would be substantially affected if I left the AC on all day or turned it off in the morning & turned it back on in the evening. I ran this test in the condo I lived in at the beach and the 50 year old concrete block house I live in now.

So, one month I'd leave the AC on, and adjust like FPL said to - the next month, AC in the evenings, turn it off from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later. At both the condo & house, the bill was lower by turning off the AC during the day.
AND I was getting fresh air in the house!

Tryin' to save energy & water, probably futile, especially in this state, with all the conspicious consumptors. Shut me up.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I actually thought Florida would have been worse off on the list.

I have lost weight since moving here from Colorado of all places--and I was not fat to begin with.

I walk the dog for half an hour in the morning and early evening every day no matter what the season, and I swim as often as possible.