Water: we don’t get enough of it. There’s a standard out there that says that you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. That, in and of itself, seems like a lot for people. The truth is, that’s for inactive people. That’s for people that aren’t doing anything but watching Jeopardy and shouting out answers.
For active people—especially people on their fitness journey, that number goes way up. You’ve set your exercise intention, done your workout calculator, now you just need to ensure that you’re remaining hydrated.Here, we’ll go through how much water we need, as well as how you can get comfortable with the idea of drinking more water. It’s an integral part of a healthy fitness routine, and its importance cannot be stressed enough.
Here’s what you need to know:
Efficient Muscles
Your body needs water. It needs water to do virtually everything in the body. When we exercise, it’s the medium that gets rid of cellular wastes in our muscles. Without water, cellular debris would build up in our muscles, and, pretty soon, the processes that promote hypertrophy and cell growth will be halted.
It is how drinking water affects weight loss: you need to have adequate water intake to get those muscles washed out so that when you sleep, the hormonal and chemical systems responsible for healthy muscles can act accordingly. You know how muscle magazines are always talking about “microtrauma” and “getting cut” and the idea of breaking down fibers through resistance training? That’s all real, and water is the cleanup crew.
Body Temperature
The biggest complaint that people have is that water doesn’t have a taste. This, along with many other things, is a very good problem. It’s a problem of abundance. When you’ve got through a grueling uphill battle with a hiking trail, nobody looks to the sky, thirsty for a Pepsi.
Water keeps our body temperature regulated so that we can keep moving without overheating. There’s a misconception that “burning” fat has everything to do with temperature. It’s about the ability to create movement. Temperature is a byproduct. If you overheat, you won’t be able to keep moving, thus burning more calories in the process.
It’s Filling
Water can keep you full. Most of us have portion control issues. Why? The food is delicious. There’s no point to life without a great meal. With that, we all want that second and third serving. We pile our plates with more and more. If you’re looking to gain weight, that might not be the worst idea. But for fat loss? Eating less is a major key. So how can we do this? By drinking more water!
If you drink 1 to 2 glasses of water before a meal—like 15 to 30 minutes before, one can guarantee that they’ll be satiated enough to keep a sensible portion going on that plate. It’s an old jockey trick. It also works incredibly well.
Water plays second fiddle to soft drinks because there’s no good media representation. But that’s not what we’re after. We’re after results. We’re after the body of our dreams. We’re here to put in the work and get those glasses of water in. If you’re an active person with a dedication to fitness, you know how much water you should be drinking? At least a gallon. Enjoy.
