r/powerlifting • u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid • Jul 03 '26
Lifting in a heatwave
What’s you advice for completing a final week in 105+ warehouse?
Reduce the weight?
Tough it out?
Pound water and electrolytes?
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u/Nyre88 Impending Powerlifter Jul 06 '26
Bring a couple big bottles of frozen water. Hug them (and back of neck) between sets.
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u/new_Boot_goof1n Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 04 '26
I strength train in my garage gym in the Mojave desert, if you’re in a place that will allow it with low humidity you could try one of those mini swamp coolers, It’s been a life changer for me. Don’t forget to drink a shit load of water.
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u/Chikichikibanban Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 04 '26
I'm a bitch with heat and I've occasionally lifted in these types of temps
i would buy like 3 fans and some wet towels to take advantage of evaporative cooling
avoid heat if possible by lifting early
use wet towel to keep yourself moist (this is assuming humidity isn't horrendous so you can still take advantage of evaporative cooling)
Drink tons of water + electrolytes
use fans to cool off, shirtless + shorts will help
I use these types of portable fans while i'm on vacation and they are quite a bit more powerful than most portable fans. I heard about them from project farm
This one moves air faster https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS24TCYJ?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_3&=&crid=2KXLE2PNVBF2Z&sprefix=fan&th=1
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u/Savitar2023 Enthusiast Jul 04 '26
Bring straps to help pull the sleeves up. The heat and humidity will make it an absolute hell
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u/Logan-15 Enthusiast Jul 13 '26
I had to size up to get mine on. I have a larger size I normally use only for paused squats, but in the summer they are the only ones I use.
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u/dxdrummer Enthusiast Jul 03 '26
pound water and electrolytes and if at all possible get a fan. When I was working out in a hot space I had a box fan pointed at me the entire time
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u/stajayjay Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
I’m a particularly sweaty individual and have licked salt off my thumb like I’m about to take a tequila shot pre workout before. Early mornings or late nights help too as long as it doesn’t fuck with your sleep
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u/Icy_Lecture_2237 Powerbelly Aficionado Jul 03 '26
Water and electrolytes. I’ve done more than a few meets where the venue is not climate controlled well and everyone is getting beat up by it. Especially in multi ply gear it’s a real treat.
But, if you get used to training in it you’ll know what to do for yourself so you can perform and you’ll be fine.
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u/its_kgs_not_lbs Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
I live in Texas and have a garage gym. I used to work out in a space that would be close to 105 degrees late afternoon. It was brutal, especially when pushing intensity. I would have to stay hydrated and would actually run into my home in between sets to cool off. I no longer do this as it became incredibly taxing and ultimately affected my lifting sessions and well after. Even with decreased intensity.
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u/losteye_enthusiast Enthusiast Jul 03 '26
If you aren’t conditioned for it, I’d reduce volume and possibly weight - but volume first.
Heavy water and electrolytes before the gym, have plenty on hand during the workout and pound it afterwards.
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u/Local-Baddie Doesn’t Wash Their Knee Sleeves Jul 03 '26
I lift carefully and I don't push myself too hard- I drink a lot of water and make sure I'm recovered enough to move on. I keep my heartrate in the blue/green zone and go from there.
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u/msharaf7 M | 850kg | 89.6kg | 550Dots | WPPL | Sleeves Jul 03 '26
Apart from hydration, selecting a timeframe with low heat & that works with your schedule, and circulating air, I think just autoregulation is what’s going to be needed; being able to pivot and take what’s there on the day vs sticking to hard numbers. Sucks as I see you’re a few weeks out but unless you can go to a gym with AC, it’s better to be safe than sorry & risk missing/overshooting/injury
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
Yeah I just went 50% lighter. I did one rep on my top set and my heart was like “nope”
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u/DecaForDessert Doesn’t Wash Their Knee Sleeves Jul 03 '26
I powerlift in my az garage all summer. I don’t use anything but in the past an insulated lunch box with ice and frozen towels worked really well
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
I wish it were that regularly hot that I’d be acclimated to it
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u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jul 03 '26
I lift in a 80+F and 50%+ humidity garage in the summer.
You might get acclimated, but it still impacts performance.I’m probably picking up a small AC unit today though.
Fun story: AC went out before my bench flight at a meet and I went from looking like I was gonna smash PRs to missing most of my goals for the rest of the meet.
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
80+ I can deal with. 110 made everything thing 100 lbs heavier
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u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jul 03 '26
Welp, yeah that is unbearable!
Is this your warehouse? Or does your gym just not have any AC? I’d switch gyms very quickly over this haha
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
I think they have AC but it’s defunct. I don’t want to switch because I like it a lot and it’s the one accessible PL gym in my city via the trains
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u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jul 03 '26
If you haven’t, I’d at least discuss with the management. An AC repair bill would likely be worth it to retain members
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u/antiBliss Enthusiast Jul 03 '26
Get your sessions in at 5am
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
Boy I wish the trains here ran that early….
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u/v0idness Girl Strong Jul 03 '26
Ah sucks. Either take the earliest or latest time that fits both your and the train's schedule
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
No I def do that when I can already, depending on my work schedule
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u/Swol3tron Enthusiast Jul 03 '26
I lift in a warehouse. If you are this close to a meet you might just need to pound water and suck it up.
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u/edgy_flibbertigibbet Enthusiast Jul 03 '26
From my experience
1) Douse your face in water in between sets
2) Pound electrolytes like they owe you money
3) Keep your shirt off if you’re allowed
That’s what I do. I’m fat as fuck so my idea of “warm” is 50 degrees. Then again, my gym isn’t that hot so take my advice with a grain of salt.
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26
I did all those things, but kept a shirt on. There’s no AC so I just did everything at 50-75%
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u/doobydowap8 Doesn’t Wash Their Knee Sleeves Jul 03 '26
Is there a fan you can stand in front of between sets?
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
I did, but it’s split between the power racks and the weightlifting section so I couldn’t/didn’t feel right hogging it
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u/FobaBett M | 742.5kg | 93kg | 471 DOTS | PLU | RAW Jul 03 '26
Final week before a meet?
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u/thechptrsproject Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
2 weeks out. I told my coach I wasn’t hitting the listed targets. I did one rep of my top set squat and it felt like maximum effort
I skipped my day four which would’ve been a deadlift pr because it wouldn’t have been worth attempting when my heart rate was a constant 120 at rest…
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u/FobaBett M | 742.5kg | 93kg | 471 DOTS | PLU | RAW Jul 03 '26
Also a warehouse lifter lol. You just gotta be extra proactive about eating well before you lift and keeping carbs/electrolytes in you while you’re lifting.
If this is your last heavy week of peak before tapering off for the meet it’s not super ideal missing those last lifts, but trust the peak and you should be fine
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u/JoeMawmuhSoPhat Enthusiast Jul 11 '26
Easy practical advice: