How to Get Better Exercise Results By Improving Hydration

Water and Exercise

Your body excretes water in a number of ways: through urination, defecation, breathing (that's why we always enjoyed breathing condensation on mirrors when we were kids) and perspiration. And when you are exercising, your body can lose a large amount of water. It's important to keep replenishing that. The water loss is even more pronounced in warm weather, or during heavy exertion. In such cases, you must make provision to take care of the water. 2 or 3 glasses of water for every hour (or part of an hour) of exercise is not too much. This is an area where you must take precautions, especially if you are older, or not used to vigorous exercise. If the weather is exceptionally hot, try to exercise during the early morning, or later afternoon, when the temperatures will be cooler, and when the sun will be less intense. But the main thing you must do is make sure you are taking in an adequate amount of water, and take steps to keep from having too much water go out. Remember, you will be losing a lot of fluid not only through perspiration, but also through hard breathing while exercising.

Having water with you is an easy habit to get into. A friend who lives in Arizona says he can always tell the natives in a crowd at a museum or sports event. The natives -- knowing how easy it is for the body to lose water in the heat and dry air -- are the ones with water bottles.

You don't have to live in Arizona to use water bottles, though. They are a good habit to get into almost anywhere you go, and you should make use of them to keep water close at hand. When we go on a trip with our children, everyone has a water bottle. Not only does it keep them (and us!) adequately hydrated, it lessens the desire for soft drinks.

And don't get fooled into thinking that you have to buy a water bottle every time you want to use one. We re-use our water bottles, washing them after every use, re-filling them with tap water, and putting them in a special place in the refrigerator. That way, the bottle is ready for use next time we need it.

But road trips aren't the only time water bottles are a good idea. Carry one along when you're hiking, playing sports, biking (any biking shop will have excellent carriers for your bike) or just on your daily commute.

Internal water is not the only thing to remember when exercising. If you aren't used to exercising, or if you are getting older, or if you have some health compromises, consider using water to be the area where you exercise -- in a pool! Not only is the water easier on joints and muscles, it's also the perfect spot to work out in very hot weather because while your body will get hot, the water will serve to temper that internal temperature rise.

Jim Huffman, RN specializes in natural and alternative healing therapies. His first book is 'Dare to Be Free: How to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your Nursing Career,' and is aimed at helping other nurses find satisfying, dynamic careers. His website is http://www.NetworkForNurses.com and his health blog is at http://www.shababa.blogspot.com

In The News:


Better Links Directory


Strategies for Alleviating the Boredom Associated with Exercise

Just about every expert in the ADD field will tell... Read More

Athletics and Winning

Athletics are pretty cut and dry in one regard; the... Read More

Exercising for life ? The magic is in the synergy!

Synergy: the working together of two or more things, people,... Read More

How to Choose a Good Jogging Stroller

If you lead an active lifestyle and you want to... Read More

Exercise & Motivation, Part 2: Overcoming Inertia & Getting Started

In the first article in this series (http://tinyurl.com/8ztbo), we gave... Read More

Your Guide to Joining the Right Gym

Whether you want to look good on the beach this... Read More

Exercise and the Time Clock

I have to admit that I sometimes find it amusing... Read More

After Exercise Headache - More Serious Than You Think?

It's surprisingly common - you're exercising, everything's fine, and then... Read More

When Exercising Right Looks Wrong

For most of us we live in a black and... Read More

Exercise Equals Fun!

Getting America's children to exercise has never been more difficult... Read More

Exercising In Heat

Summer is officially here. Finally you can pack away your... Read More

Easy and Effective Home Workouts

Many people think that creating a home workout gym is... Read More

The Right Exercise Intensity

We've all heard the exercise guidelines that recommend we participate... Read More

Great Exercises To Tone & Tighten Your Butt

A question I am frequently asked by females is, "What... Read More

Exercise and Diet ? For Your Waistline

Caring for your body is the most important thing you... Read More

Tone Up While at Work

I know better than anybody that sitting at a desk... Read More

Weight Loss and Exercise in Tough Environmental Conditions

Working out is working out, right?Wrong.Depending on the environmental conditions... Read More

4 Exercises That Will Help You Change Your Body Faster Than Any Other Exercises You May Have Tried

1. Lunges with a barbell. Properly executed, this exercise is... Read More

Doing vs. Performing: The Difference Between Exercising and Getting Results

Back when I was young and living on my parents'... Read More

Exercise Nutrition: How To Keep That Energy Up!

How many times has this happened to you?>> You psych... Read More

The Many Benefits of Exercise

Health experts encourage us to include exercise as a necessary... Read More

How to Find a Gym and Start Exercising

There is hardly a week that passes without an article... Read More

How To Overcome Workout Plateaus

Humans are habitual. They strive on routine and rituals. While... Read More

Exercise Is a Key to Good Health for All of Us

There's plenty of evidence that an essential component of a... Read More

Who Else Wants To Get In Shape in 35 Minutes?

Most of the physical fitness trainers, and coaches agree that... Read More