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Many people live life in a state of perpetual dehydration. There are external forces that cause it, sure. Like forced air heating, hot weather, sweating from a workout.

But I don’t usually find that people are dehydrated because they worked out too hard — sure sometimes — but not usually. And really I am not talking about that odd day where you feel a bit tired or dehydrated from your workout (or this time of year from your cold medicine)

I am talking about that fog that surrounds you regularly if you fail to hydrate. Those small headaches you might get, that rundown feeling, that need for a sugar boost or caffeine boost in the middle of the afternoon.

On the medical questionnaire for my personal training clients here in Douglasville, I ask about alcohol and caffeine consumption as well as medication and all the other host of medical questions. Some people drink WAY TOO MUCH CAFFEINE. Now, I love a couple of cups of coffee in the morning too but I am talking about chronic overconsumption. Reaching for a Red Bull or a Coke or even a coffee when you really should be downing some water not only does not hydrate you, it does the opposite.

As does alcohol. Both alcohol and caffeine have been found in studies to have beneficial uses in our life. But seriously, you know the studies were not assuming you drank 3 cups of coffee in the morning and then a few cokes and then a few beers. There are MANY people that go not only the entire day BUT DAYS without drinking pure water.

This week, take a couple of days and write down what you drink. EVERYTHING you drink. Juices, smoothies, juice drinks — these can all be packing on a lot of calories that are “hidden”. Beer, wine and coke can also be a lot of hidden calories and are dehydrating. So spend 2 days writing everything down. Get honest and see if you really drink 8 glasses of water or if it is more like 2. Want to get really honest? Record your food too and see the connection between lack of water consumption and overeating.

I hope this helps you to realize the importance of water on the basic functions of your body (one of those being metabolism)

Tags: Douglasville, healthy eating, Personal Training // Comments Off