Sweat it out

During an hour of vigorous exercise, how much do you reckon the average person sweats?

A tablespoon, a cupful, a pint, a litre, a quart, a gallon?

Actually it’s about 1.2 litres or a quart of sweat, some people more, some less. It’s the body’s natural cooling mechanism because we don't have big ears like elephants.

The efficiency of muscle movement depends on how well hydrated you are, so if you are dehydrated, your muscles won’t work as well. As a result, your workout will not be as productive as you would like.

Even though the body is over 70% water and you might not even notice the sweat you’re excreting, you need to keep replenishing your water. Yes even if it means going to the toilet more often.

Drink a cup of water every 15-20 minutes. No not flavoured water or juice, plain water. Personally I am in the habit of taking a sip after every set when I’m working out with weights. This makes it easy to get the water you need when working out. It’s recommended you drink another 2-3 cups within two hours after you have finished.

Apart from survival, there are many other benefits to staying well hydrated as well.