Drink More Water: How Staying Hydrated Can Improve Your Fitness

Did you know that your body contains over sixty percent water?

It's true!

Water is what makes your blood flow, it fills your cells, cools your body when you sweat, and filters and eliminates toxins from your body.

Your body needs water for pretty much every bodily function and metabolic process.

Water Is Vital For Fitness

Whether you're taking a walk around the block or running a full marathon, drinking water and staying hydrated are extremely important to preventing the effects of dehydration and to maintaining optimum fitness.

If you become dehydrated during or after intense exercise the lack of fluid will increase your skin and body temperature, your heart will need to work harder to pump thicker blood, and your muscles (and brain) will not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function properly.

Drink MORE Water During Exercise

Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.

You should be hydrating before, during, and after exercise.

The higher the air temperature and intensity of your training, the more you should drink.

As a general rule, drink 8 ounces of water about 15 minutes before exercise and 8 ounces each 15 minutes during your workout.

Continue to drink after your workout until your dark urine becomes clear.

So How Much Water Should You Drink?

You often hear that we need 8 ounce glasses of water each day.

This may be adequate if you spend your days indoors sitting at your desk, but not nearly enough if you engage in high intensity sports.

If you spend an hour on the track or basketball court, you may need 64 ounces of water during that one hour!

Adjust your water intake to match your activity level.

Dangers Of Dehydration

If the water that fills your cells and muscle tissues is not replaced, your dehydrated muscles cannot perform as they are designed to.

Your strength, power, and muscle tone will be lost.

Just as a car engine with an empty radiator will overheat and stop working, when you become dehydrated your muscles will cramp, you will become tired and exhausted and your body will start to shut down.

Prolonged dehydration will soon lead to nausea, headaches, fever and unconsciousness.

Water Should Be Your First Choice

To prevent the dangerous effects of dehydration, your body needs water.

Not soda, your favorite energy drink, or coffee.

Water can be quickly absorbed and moves immediately into your bloodstream to be carried to the areas where it is needed most.

Any excess water will help flush waste and toxins through your liver and kidneys to be eliminated.

Water is always your best choice.

What About Sports Drinks?

While commercial sports drinks CAN help you to replace lost electrolytes, many of these drinks contain large amounts of sugar, artificial ingredients, and caffeine.

Find sports drinks that are low in sugar with a low or moderate amount of sodium and no chemical additives or caffeine.

If you're bored of plain water, try a natural coconut water or add a slice of lemon or fruit to your water for added flavor.

I hope this article gave you some inspiration to stay hydrated and crush your workouts! 💦💪

For more awesome fitness tips and real talk, come hang out with me on Instagram! I'd love to connect with you over there! 🤗

Lindsay