drinking water during workouts

J

Joni

Cathlete
Hello!

I just finished Boot Camp for the first time woo hoo! During this and all my workouts I tend to guzzle water like a dried up camel.

I know Cathe says to take little sips - and in the BC workout I think she said specifically "don't guzzle" - while I was in mid-guzzle.

I often go through about a half gallon of ice water during an hour workout - and it usually doesn't bother me (until later!), but I have noticed that when I get excessive I feel "sloshy" and more tired. This is just habit - I drink lots of water throughout the day, so I'm always well hydrated before even starting. The water is like my "reward" for say, getting thru Imax2 1-6 so I can get all the way thru 10!

So I'm wondering whether I'm short-changing myself somehow by drinking too much water during the workouts.

Thanks!
 
That's an excellent question. Researchers have revisited the mantra that you really have to pound the water before, during and after a workout bout. What has been revealed is that if you overhydrate you can deplete your system of much-needed sodium and potassium stores in the blood, which can have consequences anywhere from that logey feeling you've described all the way up to physical collapse requiring hospitalization.

Thirst is indeed an excellent determinant of whether or not you are dehydrated, whether during daily activities or exercise sessions. You may want to pay attention to when you're drinking, and what you're drinking. During your workout sessions, especially longer-duration sessions involving lots of cardio, consider having a good, sodium- and potassium-rich sports drink available for some of your hydration jolts, to replenish those stores lost through sweating and hydration.

Good question! Glad you brought it up!


A-Jock
 
Hi Joni! My "take light sips during the workout" comments are mainly for two reasons.

1) To ensure you are remaining hydrated during your workouts.

2) To make sure that you do not feel as if you are going to vomit, cramp, or feel bloated to the point of discomfort. For example, during my classes I will offer breaks here and there (anywhere from 15 to 20 seconds)to get water and recharge the battery so to speak. During this time I will see some members take huge drinks of water (half of their large water bottle at once)and then join right back in with all out high impact movement and sometimes even jump into an intesity blast. They usually end up complaining that they felt like they were going to throw up or that they got a cramp from all of the water bouncing around in their bellies. So I have learned to remind everyone to take LIGHT sips of water throughout their workouts.

Take Care :)
 
Another issue Cathe's response made me think of:

Often when you're grabbing your water bottle you're also breathing hard, and believe it or not you can wind up inhaling your gulp rather than swallowing it! That's happened to me once or twice, and to participants in my aqua classes.

A-Jock
 
Thanks!

Think I'll try to find a happy medium between light sips, and nice long guzzles. Light guzzles? ;-) That might also help with my multiple nightly "wake up calls" since I work out in the evenings.

I have had the gulp-inhaling experience in the past. Not during a workout, but it still was not fun.

Joni
 
I like to drink water with a bit of "Emergen-C" in (it's got vitamin C and B vitamins and some minerals in). It seems to satisfy my thirst better than plain water so a couple of gulps (I neither sip nor guzzle ;) ) are all I need each time.
 
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