The Importance of Staying Hydrated

If you want to get the best results out of your exercise routine, then we cannot stress enough the importance of staying hydrated, whether you’re simply jogging around the neighborhood or performing a more intensive exercise with a functional trainer machine. If you need help understanding how hydration plays a role in our bodies, then allow us to expand further upon the topic.

Improves Physical Performance

During intense exercise, drinking plenty of water makes you like a well-oiled machine. The water helps to carry oxygen to your muscles so that they can perform with ease and give your workout an overall boost in performance. To stay hydrated, you need to ensure you’re consistently sipping water throughout your routine. Losing even 2% of your body’s water content can cause the effects of dehydration to start weighing you down; it’s not uncommon for athletes to lose 6-10% of their water content through sweat alone.

Keeps You Energized

Your brain is also affected by how hydrated you are. The effects of dehydration on the brain can result in splitting headaches, hinder your functional memory, and increase feelings of anxiety and fatigue. This makes the importance of staying hydrated a matter of increasing your endurance by keeping your mind sharp, reducing fatigue, and stabilizing your mood.

Prevents Injuries

Not only does it keep muscles well-oiled and performing at their best, but hydration is important for preventing injuries that come from overexertion. If you’re dehydrated and your muscles aren’t able to get a steady supply of oxygen, you run the risk of having them seize up on you in the form of painful cramps. This can be particularly disastrous if a cramp occurs in the middle of your workout, causing even greater injuries.

Aids in Weight Loss

If your end goal is to lose weight, water is crucial for both keeping your body satisfied throughout the day and giving your metabolism a boost. This increase in your metabolic rate helps to burn more calories which is fantastic for helping you keep your calorie intake less than the number of calories you burn each day.