Getting and staying active is important, but you need to take precautions while you do. You need to make sure you’re doing every exercise properly, since a mistake in your form can cause injury. You need a workout that is in line with your capabilities and limitations, which also keeps you working out without injury. One thing most people forget about, particularly when the weather is cooler, is staying hydrated. I tell clients to keep a bottle of water with them at all times and sip throughout their workout.
Your body is approximately 55-65% water, depending on your age and sex.
As you get older, your body composition includes less water and women also have lower percentage of water than men. The more muscle to fat a person has, the higher percentage of water. That makes dehydration more of a potential for people with less muscle mass and more fat, also for older people exercising. Dehydration can cause serious problems, but when the weather is cooler, you don’t notice you’re sweating as much and it can creep up on you without you realizing it.
Your vital organs are a high percentage of water.
When you consider that the heart and brain are 73 percent water and the lungs have 83 percent, you can understand how vital water is to your good health. Dehydration can create serious conditions and problems. Water is necessary for your body to create cells, it helps absorb shocks in the brain. It keeps the volume of blood regulated and lubricates the joints to prevent aches and pains.
Not only is hydrating important to your health, it can actually help you lose weight.
Have you ever felt hungry, but didn’t know what you were hungry for? Suddenly, you see a piece of juicy fruit or a cucumber salad and you dive into with zest. That is an indication that you really needed hydrating, rather than being hungry. Unfortunately, you don’t always have a low calorie fruit or vegetable available, so you eat what you have available, often junk food, in hopes of satisfying that desire. If you find yourself hungry, why not try a glass of water first and see if that satisfies you. Water can also fill you up, so drinking a glass before a meal can help reduce the amount of food you eat.
- It’s easy to forget to drink water when you’re not dripping with perspiration. That’s why dehydration can be a problem even in the colder months. To add to the problem, people often wear warmer clothing.
- Water can be the quicker picker-upper. If you find yourself dragging through your workout or even throughout the day, don’t run for a cup of coffee. Instead, drink a glass of water. It can help energize you quickly.
- Since seniors tend to dehydrate quicker, it’s especially important for them to stay hydrated. Not only does dehydration cause UTIs, it also can cause tachycardia and even symptoms that are similar to dementia.
- At Studio Fit, we recommend that clients drink plenty of water, particularly before, during and after exercise. It helps prevent muscle fatigue and can prevent muscle aches and pains.