Hydration Station

This week I discovered Lime Cucumber Gatorade!!!!!!!! Omg, by far the best Gatorade flavor EVER. If you're not a cucumber water type of person or cucumber martini type of person (I am both), this is not the sports drink for you, but if you are... I may have just changed your whole world. I had lime cucumber Gatorade during two workouts last week, and it was so refreshing, not sugary, and had all the good electrolytes, etc that I needed. With that shameless promotion, let's move on to ways to improve hydration.

1. You should not drink sports drink like they are juice or water. Save them for pre, post, and during workouts.

2. Beware of sugar levels in all sports drinks and juice. When you're in the middle of a rough workout, sugar can help your body's energy levels in the short term, but unfortunately, if you don't balance your sports drink and water intake, the same sugar that gave you a boost, will dehydrate you and lead to muscle cramps.

3. Look for beverages high in potassium. Potassium will increase your energy level without the negative effects of sugar, and it will help ward off muscle cramps. A good example is coconut water. If you're not a fan of coconut water, try orange juice, but look for ones that have no sugar added (oj is notorious for adding lots of extra sugar). I would stay away from orange juice during a workout or immediately before (too much acidity).

4. If you are the type who says, "but water is so bland..." please try something other than crystal light packets. It's too easy people! While flavor enhanced powders may claim zero carbs and little to no calories, you are putting a very processed and unnatural substance into the purest natural beverage you can put in your body. Instead, try to infuse water at home. Take a pitcher of water, add fruit to it, and let it sit over night in your fridge. Too easy! You can leave the fruit in the water as long as you want... the longer the time period, the more intense the flavor. I do suggest taking the rinds off fruit. I had a failed attempt at lime infused water which tasted solely like lime rinds only after a day. Here are some of my favs for infusing water:

• Lime or Lemon
• Oranges
• Cucumber
• Grapefruit
• Mint leaves

If you are exotic and ambitious, you could try Rose, or Hibiscus and Mint. Be creative, see what works! WATER is so good for you and such a necessity; you might as well make it enjoyable.

On a side note you also should drink extra water (try 3 glasses more) after a massage, or any physical therapy. Different types of physical therapies (electric stem, needling, micro-current), especially massage, help release toxins that build up in your muscle (think of knots or cramps), and drinking extra water helps flush these toxins out so they don't re-settle into your muscles.

Happy Sweating,
Dominique