Part 6 of 8, How to make the most of your time in the gym
Trust us. We understand busy schedules. In fact, many of the members we have here at Alvin CrossFit initially joined because they needed a more efficient workout that didn’t require them to be in the gym for hours at a time. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of eight ways you can make your time at the box as productive and fulfilling as possible.
DRINK MORE WATER
Are you the type to only drink water when you’re feeling really thirsty or maybe you like to chug the majority of your day’s water intake right before and after a WOD? Well, you might want to change that
and here’s why. Feeling thirsty and getting dry mouth indicates that your body is already dehydrated. Dehydration can reduce the volume of blood pumped by the heart which means less oxygen to the muscles and that can result in premature fatigue. In fact, dehydration can be responsible for up to a 20% decrease in athletic performance. And if you try to quick fix your dehydration by drinking lots of fluid right before class it can cause bloating and cramping. That’s a terrible way to suffer through a WOD. This is especially important for women. “Women are not small men,” says Stacy Sims, Ph.D., exercise physiologist-nutrition scientist. “They’re five times more likely than men to have GI problems when exercising . . . women are also more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Water should be an athlete's primary fluid (at least 60 oz a day) and a proper hydration plan includes drinking plenty of the wet stuff throughout the day. Before drinking anything else in the morning, you should down a glass of water. When you awaken, your body is slightly dehydrated. Water provides dehydrated organs with the fluid they need for proper function. Guess what else it does; it keeps your skin, hair and nails healthy! Bottom line: Get the most out of your training session by staying hydrated all day long. Keep a water bottle close by, especially when you're not exercising.
The quote on our home page says, "Action is the foundational key to success." There is no better time than NOW to get your fitness in order and we would love to help you. Click HERE to schedule your FREE, no sweat intro phone consultation to see how we can help you lose weight, feel great and just be a better, more fit version of yourself!
