Drink more water. Feeling Sluggish? Maybe you are dehydrated?
By: Emily Rutherford
Drink more water!
Have you ever had one of those days where you’re feeling great until you’re 10 minutes into a 20 minute workout and all of a sudden your heart feels like it’s pounding, your mouth is sticky, the thought of 10 more minutes makes you want to cry and wait…. What rep are you on??
Chances are you were dehydrated that day
It seems like being a bit behind on your water intake shouldn’t make a workout that much more challenging but consider these factors.
When your body loses 1.5% of its normal water volume you begin to experience more anxiety, fatigue, and irritability. Brain cells struggle to function properly leading to cognitive problems. We begin to lose strength and stamina. On top of that, being dehydrated means your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your system.
Could this be you?
Research shows that 75% of the adults in the U.S. are dehydrated. In a class at the gym and there are 12 of you taking that class, 9 of those 12 are low on water. Chances are that at least a couple times a week, you are one of those people!
Quick Fixes to drink more water
A first step to making sure you’re getting enough water, aim to have .5-1oz of water per lb of body weight. Do this every day. If you weigh 150 lbs, that’s 75-150 oz of water. Now that you have an amount to aim for, go buy a reusable water bottle. Keep it with you, and full, throughout the day. If you still struggle to drink water, connect it to an existing behavior. For example, have a glass of water before and after each meal or have a glass of water every time you look at your phone—you’ll definitely be hydrated then!
For example, have a glass of water before and after each meal or have a glass of water every time you look at your phone—you’ll definitely be hydrated then! Another great way to drink more water is to have a drink every hour on the hour. Super simple way to increase how much water you are consuming.
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