Are You Drinking Enough Water?

By: Karen Lilleyman

As we all learn in school, the human body is roughly two thirds water and we could not live more than a few days without consuming it. It is clearly a vital part of our workout (and post workout) strategy, but how much should we really be drinking? It seems many of the articles and campaigns urging us to drink more have dubious origins – often sponsored by bottled water manufacturers – and are not always based on sound scientific evidence.

The classic yardstick is that we should aim for 8 ounces of water 8 times per day (which equates to about 2 liters, or half a gallon). More recently, in an attempt to link intake more directly to individual body requirements, it has been recommended that we take in between a half and a full ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight. However even that measurement doesn’t take into account an individual’s age, activity level, environment, the amount of fluid taken in through food etc etc.

Luckily, the human body is pretty well practised at maintaining water balance and has a handy way of telling us when more is required – yep, thirst! Health authorities (including the UK’s NHS) are starting to lean away from providing any hard and fast rules and instead suggesting we drink to quench our thirst – revolutionary! This of course requires us to be tuned in to our bodies and in touch with how thirsty we are at any point. Our busy, technology-focussed lifestyles encourage this disconnection, which we then need to deliberately seek out through activities like yoga (maybe I’m biased?). Until we’ve all tuned in (to our body’s needs and signals) and dropped out (or the rat race of modern life), maybe we’d better aim for those 8 glasses per day…

Warm Up: 4 Rounds 40/20 Machine Get Warm!
2 Rds: 20 arm circles, 20 hollow rocks, 20 air squatsFinish with: 15 PVC PT, GM, 20 scorpions Skill: Pull Ups Progression/Skill Work

15 Minutes

 

Metcon:

 

Welded

8 Minute AMRAP

7 Cal Row

6 Box Jumps 24/20

5 DL 185/125
Adv: 275/175

 

Welded Lean

3 Rounds

1 Mile on Bike

30 Walking Lunges

30 Push Ups

1K Row/Ski
Finish with: 75 Ab Mat Sit Ups

 

Mobility Of the Day: Glute Smash (pg. 300)

Improves: Low Back and Hip Pain, Knee Out Position

 

Skills:  Handstand push ups and shoulders