The first thing on your mind the morning after an evening workout sesh and/or a night of drinking should be water. If you’re extra capable in the morning, perhaps a jazzed up version with lemon or diluted apple cider vinegar. More often than not, though, coffee is the first thing I gulp down. The caffeine in a cup (or three) of joe is just the stimulant I need to jolt myself awake when I have that foggy, half-conscious feeling that makes me want to go back to bed. While coffee has its benefits, hydration isn’t one of them.
Other inconspicuous causes of dehydration include, but are not limited to: the weather, cutting out carbs, stress, and breathing(!). I would like to think I’m drinking enough H2O to counteract all the stressors, but I fall drastically short when comparing myself against either the 8×8 rule or water intake based on weight. Tbh, it’s a miracle I’m hydrated at all.
Not surprisingly, our newish regimen calls for even more water to remain hydrated. The graphic below breaks down just how much water we need to ingest for a workout and when. For 30 minutes of exercise, it’s recommended I drink anywhere between 54 and 66 ounces of H2O. Theoretically, since women require less water than men for the same intensity and duration of an exercise, I’d be on the lower end of that recommended range, while Hubby would be on the higher end. In reality, I think Hubby drinks even less water than I do.
Yet, the benefits of hydration make us wonder why we’re not doing better to meet our daily goal. Not only does it prevent hangovers, but it also increases physical performance, satiety, metabolic rate, energy levels, and brain function—and for next to nothing. Sign me up, please!
30 Day Life Challenges 