You were ready for your usual walk when you noticed the hazy sky and the smell of smoke. Your first thought might be to push through so you don't break your routine. On a smoky day, changing the plan can be the better decision.
Smoke affects the air you breathe whether or not you're taking a GLP-1. Start with local air-quality information and any advice from your health care team, especially if you have a heart or lung condition.
Check conditions before you head out
Look at a current local air-quality report and the guidance for your area. Conditions can change during the day, and the air may be different from what it was yesterday or even this morning.
If you can see or smell smoke, avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Wait for conditions to improve before returning to an outdoor workout, and follow local health advice. A mask isn't a reason to ignore an alert or turn a smoky day into a hard run.
If you have asthma, heart disease, another condition affected by air quality, or a personal action plan, use the guidance your clinician has given you. Keep any prescribed rescue medication accessible as directed.
Consider the air inside, too
An indoor workout can be an option if the space has cleaner air and a comfortable temperature. Depending on what is available, you might walk indoors, do a gentle mobility routine or use familiar equipment. You can also rest.
Keep windows and doors closed when outdoor smoke is getting in, if you can do so without making the space dangerously hot. A suitable air cleaner or properly maintained air system may help reduce indoor particles. Avoid activities that add indoor smoke or fumes.
Heat matters as well. If your home is too hot to stay safe, look for a cooler place with cleaner air, such as an appropriate community space, or ask local services what is available. Don't exercise in a hot, stuffy room simply because it's indoors.
Scale the plan to how you feel
An indoor alternative needn't match the workout you missed outside. A few easy movements, a shorter session or a rest day can all fit into a longer routine. Missing an outdoor workout is a sensible choice when the air is unsafe.
If your appetite has been small on a GLP-1, keep food and fluids in the day's plan even if you decide not to exercise. Choose drinks and meals that fit your needs and follow any individual fluid instructions you've been given.
For people who have diabetes or use medicines that can lower blood sugar, changes in activity can be relevant to an existing glucose plan. Follow your care team's instructions and ask for advice if the plan doesn't fit the day.
Watch for symptoms
Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways. If you develop coughing or wheezing, move to cleaner air and follow your care plan. Contact a health professional about symptoms that concern you or don't improve.
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pain or pressure, fainting, or severe trouble breathing. Stop the workout and get help right away.
If you must go outside, limit time in smoky air and follow local guidance. A properly fitted N95 can reduce smoke exposure, but it doesn't make strenuous activity in bad air a good plan.
Resume when conditions improve
Check the current report again rather than relying on the color of the sky alone. Once conditions are suitable, return to your usual routine at a comfortable pace. There is no need to make up every missed minute.
If low appetite or poor energy is affecting activity on other days, our guide to adapting exercise on low-appetite days has more ideas. Your shoes will be there when the air is better.