Staying Hydrated at the Gym – When you’re working out, it’s essential to stay hydrated. Trying to exercise without being adequately hydrated can impact the quality of your workout and cause serious health issues.
In this article, we will look at why staying hydrated during workouts is essential, the symptoms of dehydration, and tips to stay properly hydrated to keep you safe and get the most out of your workouts.
What are the Benefits of Proper Hydration for Athletes?
Proper hydration helps to maintain blood volume, which is vital for transporting oxygen and nutrients to working muscles. That same oxygen supplies blood to your muscles, which is necessary for muscle growth.
Drinking plenty of water can also lead to weight loss and better overall health. You can’t grow muscle when dehydrated. It also helps regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, and prevent cramping during workouts.
What is the Impact of Dehydration on Athletes?
Dehydration can cause all sorts of problems for athletes.
Dehydration can cause a decrease in blood volume, which means your heart has to work harder to pump blood to your muscles. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Dehydration can also cause cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is when your body temperature rises, and you start to feel sick. Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fainting, and anxiety. Heat stroke is even more severe and happens when your body temperature gets too high – it can damage your brain or other organs.
Staying Hydrated at the Gym – What are the Symptoms of Dehydration?
Dehydration can come in many forms, but here are a few common symptoms of dehydration:
- Thirst
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
These are just a few symptoms of dehydration – if you’re feeling any of them, it’s essential to take a break, rehydrate, and check in with your doctor.
Tips for Staying Hydrated at the Gym
Here are a few tips to stay hydrated when working out:
- Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your workout.
- If you’re going to be exercising for more than an hour, bring an electric or traditional shaker cup with you and take sips throughout your workout.
- Avoid sugary drinks like soda – they can make you more dehydrated.
Drink an energy drink, or sports drink, or eat foods with electrolytes like bananas to help replace what you’re sweating out, especially if the workout lasts more than 60 minutes.
To learn more, visit Train Fitness.