Hello, Hydration!
Hydration is probably the most stressed topic in health and wellness and some of us still ignore it. It’s one of the most vital parts of life and we still discount its benefits. Why is it that the secret to great health, weight loss, perfect skin, vitality… is still lost within the crowded store aisles and fancy fix-it clinics? It’s time to set the hydration stage once and for all, fitness girls and boys! And vow to never underplay water again.
Water’s known as an essential nutrient–also a non-energy producing nutrient, or micronutrient–and constitutes 72 percent of muscles. So feed those beauties.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before: In order for great health to work, first you have to and one of the best ways to complement fitness aspirations is to get the right amount of daily fluids. Now, I’m not talking about just any fluids. Our bodies want nothing but pure H2O and plenty of it. Did you know by the time you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated? Below, I’ll point out a few tricks and tips you can keep in mind while working towards those proper daily intake levels.
Water’s a medium for metabolism and nutrient support. Hello, weight loss!
According to the Adequate Intake (AI) level, most adults should be consuming anywhere from 2.7-3.7 liters per day. Shocked? Well don’t be! Our bodies are made up of 40-70% of water. That seems like quite the range but there are many factors taken into consideration when concluding these figures like height, age, weight, level of physical activity (check out some more here). But regardless of these factors, everyone should be throwing back bottles [of water] more often than you think.
We often confuse hunger with dehydration but we need to break that habit before it’s too late. We should all learn to recognize the signs of thirst. Let me paint a picture: It’s 8 a.m. and you just finished your morning grab-n-go breakfast. You sit down at your desk and start your day. Ten o’clock hits and GRUMBLE, your belly growls. You clench your abdomen and tell it to hush but it isn’t long before a few more grumbles have you caving for some mid-morning goodies. Drop the chips and cookies! What you really want is a room-temperature bottle of water. It’s the grumble fix we need and is actually what your body is looking for.
When your body is dehydrated, your kidneys can’t filter properly. Can you say, gross? Your body also won’t flush out sodium like it’s suppose to causing retention. I think we can all agree that any anti-bloating tip is a good tip.
“Okay, so I’ll swap snacking for water, but three liters a day? Impossible.” Hardly. If you need help reaching proper AI levels try matching every drink you have in a day with its amount in H2O. This will slowly help you wean off the sugar and create a bond between you and good water habits. However, I should warn you about excessive bathroom trips.
Upping your water intake WILL make you pee ALL the time no matter what. This is temporary, though. You’ll be fine after a few days. Promise. Like all lifestyle changes, your body will just need to get used to it. And once it becomes a part of your lifestyle you’ll find yourself only wanting to drink water.
In order to build muscle, we must drink enough water to flush out damaged tissue to build new tissue. Grow, booty, grow!
Lastly, attractive sports drinks. While they’re as tasty as can be–you guessed it, Sugar–and dazzlingly refreshing, they’re not a pretty pathway towards proper hydration. And if it’s an electrolyte boost you’re looking for, take a trip down the baby aisle to pick up a bottle of Pedialyte. Electrolyte packed sans the sugar. You’re already on your way to weight loss just by making this simple switch.
Get water from your fruits and veggies too. Load up on more water-rich foods to assist your water intake levels. Pretty simple.
So, stop stiffing your hydration friend and just accept that perfect hydration will only come through our pal, water. Never underestimate its power; it will always be your number one tool in achieving fitness greatness. P.S. you might want to buy a 1 liter glass water bottle. Fill that baby up three times a day and you’re golden. It’s a great way to keep track on intake and well worth the investment. So, goodbye dry days and Hello, Hydration! It’s great to finally meet you.
For kicks, check out Arnie undercover. You may pick up some extra fun “tips” (or have a good laugh):
