
Staying hydrated is vital for any workout, irrespective of your fitness levels. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue, decreased performance, and even injury. To make sure you stay hydrated, here are five ways to stay hydrated during your workout:
Drink Water Before and After Your Workout Session
It's always great to hydrate before you start working out. This can help you avoid dehydration when you start to sweat. It is also important to drink water after your workout to replenish fluids lost during the session. Drinking water before and after exercise is an excellent strategy to stay hydrated.
Sip Water During Your Workout
Taking water breaks throughout your workout will help prevent dehydration. Always have a bottle of water with you and take small sips of water during your workout. This helps to keep a balance of water in your body as you lose water through sweating.
Switch to Electrolyte Drinks
Electrolyte drinks provide crucial mineral salts that help the water be absorbed into your system, thus helping maintain your hydration levels. You do not need to drink sugary energy drinks; plain coconut water or water with an electrolyte drop added work just as well.
Incorporate Hydrating Foods in Your Pre-Workout Meals
Eating fruits and vegetables before working out can keep you hydrated. Foods like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges contain high water content and are excellent for hydration. Including hydrating foods in your diet also improves your overall health and performance during your workout.
Track Your Fluid Intake
Track your liquid intake daily and during workouts. There are phone apps like WaterMinder and MyFitnessPal which can track your daily water intake. Monitoring your water intake helps keep you accountable, so you make sure you drink what you need to stay hydrated throughout the day.