We all know that we should be drinking more water throughout the day, but those of us who are focused on fitness have an even greater need to stay hydrated. Our body’s fabulous cooling system needs water to do the job, and if you don’t fill up you are going to pay for it!
Before exercise you need to be drinking water throughout the day. Starting out low on water is a recipe for disaster. There are many ways to make sure you get enough water. What you choose to do really is a matter of personality and personal preference. What I like to do is always have a water bottle full of water nearby. If it is there, I will drink it. If I have to remember to go get it, I will forget and find that I have only had one, maybe two glasses of water in a day.
There are many wonderful water bottles out on the market today that range in price from just a couple dollars (or even free from companies that want to advertize) to about $20. Here are a couple of the nicer bottles that you might find convenient. I know that sometimes when I invest a little in something, I am more likely to use it.
This bottle has a Brita filter right inside to take tap water and make it taste great. You do have to replace the filter periodically, so there is an ongoing cost with this bottle.
Camelbak water bottle with straw
If you are not a fan of tipping your water bottle and like the convenience of a straw, the Camelbak company (and many others who have followed suit) offers a selection of waterbottles that come equiped with a straw for easy sipping throughout the day. They also offer a filtered option similar to the Brita product.
During a workout it it can often be difficult to work in hydration. If you are like me and your fitness activity of choice involves heading out in one direction and not seeing home again until you are done (running, biking, walking, etc), finding a water source can be a challenge. I have found that I need to bring my water with me when I run, especially when my run will last longer than a half an hour (anything shorter than that and I just plan to rehydrate when I get back). Again, as with your day long hydration, what you will want to use here is all a matter of choice and personal preference. A couple of options are:
A belt similar to the one shown above (this one is by the Nathan Company, but many companies make similar products) can be a convenient way to bring water with you. Your hands are completely free and you even havef a pocket for carrying your phone or car keys.
A Back Pack Style Hydration Pack
A back pack style might work for you if you want to distribute the weight of the water over a larger area. This can be a bit warmer option, but I know several people who find this to be the most convenient meathod, as you do not have to grab and replace water bottles, you simply sip from a straw like tube that is near your mouth the entire time.
This is the option that I personally use. I have bad hips and the weight of the sport belt or backpack adds to my hip pain, so I have opted to use a water bottle with a hand strap attached.
After you exercise you need to think about replacing all of the electrolytes (salts) that you lost as well as water. To do this you should consume a sports type drink (ie gatorate, powerade, nuun, etc) that contains electrolytes. If you are concerned with the calorie content of these drinks, you can find low calorie or calorie free options (my favorite is nuun, which is extremely low calorie without using artificial sweeteners)
Disclosure- This was NOT a sponsored post. I recieved no compensation for highlighting the products seen above. However, there are associate links found within this post (those that go to Amazon.com) and purchases made after clicking through a link on this page MAY result in some compensation.
