The Need For Hydration In Bodybuilding

You need water. This is true whether you are a bodybuilder or not. We all require water to survive, and amazingly enough, few of us get the recommended daily intake of water! In order of importance, for our survival, we need oxygen, water, food, and sleep.

As a bodybuilder, you've probably heard "protein, protein, protein." But did you know that the protein in your body cannot function properly without the proper amount of water? It's true. It requires enough water to properly fold into its three-dimensional shape. We also need water for our cells to continue to live. If a cell is deprived of water, it dies.

We are constantly losing water from our bodies. This happens through sweat, urination, tears, and even evaporation. Dehydration occurs when we are losing more water than we are consuming, and the results can be very harsh. So what can happen if you don't drink enough water? There are many technical/medical terms that could be tossed around here, but essentially you will experience a dry mouth, dry nasal passages, dizziness, weakness, heart palpitations, the inability to sweat, heat exhaustion, confusion, heat stroke, and even death.

Think about working out for just a minute. The outer part of your body starts feeling hot — hot to the point where you are sweating. But if you used a thermometer, and took your temperature, it would still be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because when your body starts heating up, the water inside your body starts working to control and maintain the internal temperature — just like the cooling system of your car.

As a bodybuilder, if you are not getting enough water, you won't be able to lift as much weight, or to lift weight with the same intensity that you can when you are hydrated.

So, how much water do you need? Since you are constantly losing more amounts of water than other people, due to workouts, you can't really go by the "eight glasses of water a day" rule. You have to go by what your body tells you. Pay attention to the frequency and color of your urine. Urine should be very light colored, as opposed to dark. If it is dark, you need more water. Also, if you are losing weight through sweat, you probably need more water.

Also, remember that water comes in many forms. It can also be obtained by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, fruit juices, tea, and coffee (decaffeinated). Remember that caffeine promotes water loss, so if you are drinking a caffeine drink with the hopes of replenishing water loss, you are fighting a losing battle.

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