So you’re looking at increasing your physical activity levels…. Great news! How’s your hydration?

We want you to have the best experience possible and that starts with ensuring adequate hydration is taking place. It’s July, peak of the british summer. While we may not know quite what weather we get (thanks England) it’s smart to plan for the heat.

Proper hydration is a bit of an art, drink too much and you may feel sloshing in your stomach. Drink too little and your mouth will be drier than the Sahara desert. To be optimally hydrated, we want to make sure we drink well before we exercise – especially in hot conditions.

How do we know when we’re dehydrated?

Thirst is often the first sign of inadequate hydration. Other common symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, confusion, and urine that is darker than normal. Dehydration can be a serious problem for older adults because the sensation of thirst diminishes with age.

An easy way to check your hydration is by checking your urine alongside a chart like the one provided. Anything below a 3 on the chart means you’re in need of more water.

The best advice we can give is to regularly sip water. Big mouthfuls may cause you to feel uncomfortable. Small, regular sips are best.

Would you like to join our Strava group and help us reach Tokyo virtually? You can check it out here. One You East Sussex to Tokyo Strava group.

Can I be too hydrated?

Yes, there is an extreme when it comes to hydration and being too hydrated isn’t good for us. You can drink too much water and, if you’re not also taking on adequate electrolytes, you’ll effectively dilute and affect the balance of your body’s fluids. This can lead to a feeling of being bloated and nauseous; in extreme it can be fatal. (This occurs more in exercise that can go on for several hours like running marathons) When we have lost lots of fluid, we must ensure we replace electrolytes too – sports drinks are a great option for this.

Would you like help increasing your physical activity?

We have health coach appointments available with behavioural change specialists. Let us help you get back to exercising with our tips and advice, not only do you get regular accountability with us, but you also get motivation all for FREE.

Find you why with our help. Fill out a short referral form here to get started.