Over the summer, we're sure you've heard and read about how you need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. But did you know that it's not as straightforward as you might think?
Did you know that you must drinking water not just during your workout, but also before? Even if you sip on something regularly while you're at the gym, you may be prone to headaches if you haven't hydrated ahead of time, too.
The Institute of Medicine actually recommends 11.4 cups per day, although hydration needs vary from person to person. The exact amount of H2O you need is dependent on your size and weight. And since you can also get water from foods like fruits and veggies (an apple, for instance, can provide an entire cup of water), you may not need to guzzle as much if you're eating water-rich meals and snacks. In general, though, if you take your your weight and divide it by two, that should give you roughly the number of ounces of water you need in a day.
And if you feel thirsty, then yes, you should probably drink water. Same goes for when you're exercising or it's hot outside. But”contrary to common belief”these aren't the only times when you need to rehydrate. You also need to hydrate while you're sitting at your desk at work.
Also make sure you drink up before you eat to make sure your hunger pangs are actually, well, hunger pangs. Many people confuse the need for H20 with the need for food. So drink plenty of water while you eat as well.
