training for desert condtion

annoyingbeast

ok guys, next summer I'm Travelling to morroco to build houses and trek through the desert with a group of guys, also helping build an irrigation system, anyway cuttin to the chase, im not very fit, and have never been outside ireland or uk, so im nowhere near ready for the heat, i basically need exercises i can do at home to work on the ankles and calves (indoors) i dont have enough to join a gym but i own some weights! and is there anything i can do to deal with the heat? ill be sleeping rough in tents too not that that may matter, just need some advice,

Thanks!

Remmy

Hi op.
It sounds like you need to improve your cardio and impove walking with a pack on your back.You can do bodyweight strength exercises in a circuit fashion at home without equipment which will improve your strength and cardio.The crossfit website is worth a look for these.

For trekking you could take up hill walking at the weekends.Lots of great trails around the place and there is also a good sub-forum on boards about it.

Both of these suggestions require fcuk all money to get started into just a bit of research on the web and some time.Best of luck op that sounds like a class thing to be doing.:)

TheVoodoo

African heat is unlike anything in Ireland or the Uk, it's incredibly dry and draining, that being said, if you're fit, you'll acclimatise very quickly. As the other poster said, get out with a back pack and go hillwalking. There is no set way to prepare to go there. ( I've been 5 times for a few months each time, i've been 'affected' differently each time ) Physical fitness does make a huge difference.


Get out, go walking, jogging or trekking/ hillwalking. All will help.

digme

Take hot baths every day for a week before you go to Africa,that works wonders.Humidity is your problem not so much the heat,contrary to popular belief you would get more tired running in Ireland in the summer than you would in Morocco.

A great book would be survival of the fittest.

discus

digme wrote: »

Take hot baths every day for a week before you go to Africa,that works wonders.Humidity is your problem not so much the heat,contrary to popular belief you would get more tired running in Ireland in the summer than you would in Morocco.

Not that I'm any the wiser, but is this from personal experience?

annoyingbeast

Thanks alot guys, should i try build up muscle aswell or just focus on fitness?

and will that hot bath thing actually work?

digme

discus wrote: »

Not that I'm any the wiser, but is this from personal experience?

yes

Remmy

annoyingbeast wrote: »

Thanks alot guys, should i try build up muscle aswell or just focus on fitness?

and will that hot bath thing actually work?

If it was me I'd focus more on getting fitter.You'l enjoy your time over there alot more if you aren't constantly gassing.also drink shedloads of fluids