With the summer here and the sun shining, we have some advice for you …
HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE! Today on the blog we are talking all things water
and the effects that it has on both your everyday life + your barre practice. Water =
good, common knowledge, right? Right … but exactly how much water should you be
drinking? When should I be drinking water? How does water play into my workout?
These are the type of questions that we will be tackling on the blog today.
So first off, we think that it is safe to say that water is really really really important, it
is sort of the Jack-of-all-Trades when it comes to your health and well-being.
Drinking plenty of fluids will help fuel your body, circulate nutrients, flush out
toxins, make your skin glow, prevent headaches, affect your mood, aid weight loss,
and keep everything functioning the way that it is suppose to.
A general rule of thumb regarding just how much water you should drink typically
goes as follows: you should be drinking your body weight (in lbs), divided by two (in
oz). SO… if you weigh 150 lbs you should be drinking 75 oz of water daily. This can
also vary, depending on your age, gender, height, activity levels, etc. However, it is
not entirely clear-cut for our barrestars + exercise fiends because the more active
you are, the more water you require to stay hydrated. If you are wondering just how
much water your body will require during its workout it is important to consider
intensity levels of the activity and your sweat output. Camelbak has created a
fantastic calculator to recommend how much water you should be taking in to
maximize performance in your workout. Check it out here!
Next, we are going to talk about WHEN is the best time to drink water to maximize its
effectiveness. Studies often promote the benefits of drinking a glass of water as soon
as you wake up – this is said to help activate your internal organs and flush out
toxins before your first meal of the day. It is also important to drink water before +
after a meal to help with digestion and proper nutrient absorption. It is beneficial to
have a glass of water before bed, this will help replenish any of the water that you may
lose during your slumber. And of course, don’t forget to stay hydrated during your
daily workout! Remember that there is no right or wrong way to drink water … as long
as you are getting enough of it!
We know that reaching your daily hydration requirements is much easier said than done,
you are certainly not alone. So in conclusion, we have compiled a few tips and tricks to
help you sneak a bit more water into your daily consumption. Here they are:
1) Fruits and veggies are water-rich foods – increase your intake of these bad boys
and you are well on your way to optimal hydration!
2) Get creative with your water – try different fruit infusions to spice things up. You
can add oranges, lemons, mint, watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers,
ANYTHING!
3) Keep a water bottle with you at. all. times! Make it a habit to carry your water
with you. If it is in reaching distance, then you are far more likely to drink
throughout the day.
4 )If you are tech savvy, there are actually water tracking apps that will hold you
accountable to getting your daily servings. Some even have alarms that you can
set, if you need the reminder.
5) If you’re out for a night on the town, stick to a one-to-one rule when drinking
alcohol. For every vodka cran, follow it up with a glass of water. (And you will
thank us in the morning. ;) )
6) Invest in a marked water bottle so that you can track precisely how much water
you are taking in.
7) Hot water with lemon is truly a girl’s best friend! Start your day off with a cup to
kick start digestion, balance pH levels and hydrate the lymph system.