Do you struggle with drinking enough water? Wonder how much is enough? Do you feel tired throughout the day? Do you feel your workouts are below par?
Chances are it isn’t because you’re not sleeping much or your food has been poor all day. Chances are you are just dehydrated.
Fact: As little as 2% dehydration can can have a negative effect on training performance.
2%?! Yes, that little. This can be said for energy levels too, resulting in a decrement in working performance and general mood.
In addition, an increase in appetite has been shown to be a cause of dehydration.
Simply put – when it comes to every single bodily function, if you are dehydrated, you are putting yourself at a massive, massive disadvantage. From cognitive function and ability to digestive purposes. These will all be negatively impacted.
Thus, the reason why I ask every client, every week what their hydration was like each day. It is one of the most important variables to keep consistently in a good place.
Tips to help drink more:
- Start the day off right by drinking 750ml-1l of water first thing. Before your shower, coffee, walk or training session. Every morning.
- Make water appealing. No one wants to drink luke warm water. Do they? Make it ice cold, maybe leave it in the fridge during the day and or overnight.
- Add a little drop of dilute every once and a while. It won’t kill you.
How much should you be drinking?
I don’t like to put a figure on this as everyone is different. But as a minimum figure – 3 litre and lower and you are running the risk of dehydration during the day.
So when you feel tired, don’t reach for the coffee pot… Reach for a glass of water. It might be all you need.
Stay hydrated,
Josh