Staying hydrated during your workout is extremely important. Dehydration adversely affects your performance, energy level, and even your coordination. Severe dehydration can even cause muscle cramps, headaches, and dizziness during your workout.
The more intense your workout, the more fluids your body loses. But that doesn’t mean that a light workout doesn’t require proper hydration. As your body loses fluid, your blood volume drops, making it more difficult for your body to get the oxygen it needs from your blood and to remove toxins from your cells.
Tips for Staying Hydrated All Day Long
Proper hydration begins long before you ever hit the gym. Drink plenty of water all day long. If you have trouble getting enough, consider adding flavor with a dash of fruit juice. Eating lots of fruit can also help you maintain hydration during the day.
Avoid caffeinated or sugary beverages, which don’t hydrate your body as effectively as water. And remember that it takes your body at least twenty minutes to absorb any fluid you take in, so simply drinking during your workout isn’t enough.
Hydration during Your Workout
During your workout, you lose fluid through sweating. To ensure that you stay hydrated, drink a ½ cup to a full cup of water every fifteen minutes or so. Most of the time, water is the best choice for re-hydrating. But if your workout is particularly long or intense, you’ll want to supplement water with a sports drink; these beverages contain electrolytes, which your body also loses as you sweat. Meanwhile, embrace that sweat! It’s part of your body’s way of cooling itself. When you finish your workout, drink plenty of water again, and pick up your daily hydration routine right where you left off. By staying hydrated, you’ll notice that your body feels better and your performance stays stronger.
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