In case you missed the weekend’s posts, here is a recap!
Can you tell I increased my running this weekend from the titles? It was a hot one! Since I am back to the hecticness of the school today (the last week of classes!), my husband is making an appearance with another guest post on hydration.
A Hot Mess
I was reminded this weekend how tough it is to exercise during the “Dog Days” of August. Sunday we awoke to all the windows in the house having condensation on them……clearly indicating it was VERY humid outside (or perhaps Holly cranked down the AC too much!!) In any event the last few days have seen temps in the low 90’s and very high humidity……..making the heat index well over 100 degrees..
Most people tend to try and exercise earlier in the morning or later in the evening during these tough days, but even then the humidity really takes its toll on you. Sunday, as Holly finished her 4.5 mile run, she came in soaking wet, but that isn’t what struck me……..it was 40 mins later after she had stretched and showered that she said she was still sweating! She drank both water and G2 to help replenish what she lost. Fortunately for Holly she doesn’t seem to have any adverse effects, but it brings to mind something that many of us forget. Most times it is not what we have to drink during or even after our workouts that determines the effectiveness of our workout, it is what we have consumed in the hours prior or the night before.
Our beginning hydration level sets the stage for the type of workout we have, our endurance during, as well as the recovery afterwards.
Do you have a normal routine to hydrate before workouts or in very hot conditions?
We’ve all heard of carbo-loading before events, but many times hydration before the workout is even more essential. Most of us know that alcohol is dehydrating and is not a good option. We also don’t want to drink tons of water before heading to bed either because we need our rest and don’t want to have to get up all night every time “nature calls.”
So what is the best way to pre-hydrate? Is anyone using the new Gatorade Prime?
We have tended recently to drink G2 after workouts to help replace salt and electrolytes. I’ve struggled for years with staying hydrated and for those of you that might have a tendency to get kidney stones, like I do, hydration is essential. I am always looking for better ways to hydrate.
The fact of the matter is that nothing replaces good old-fashion water as the best way to hydrate, but if there are other natural and healthy ways to hydrate with the help of modern chemistry, I am all for it. Let’s face it, if we are going to use what very little spare time we have to work out, we might as well get the most out of it and it starts with hydration………….otherwise we just end up a hot mess!!
