With football season already in full swing and the weather here in Sugar Land is blistering hot, I wanted to address things athletes should be doing daily to get themselves ready for peak performance.   

Did you know that a 3% drop in body hydration levels can decrease reaction time by up to 20%, power output by almost 30% and total strength somewhere between 20 – 30%!  This can have a negative outcome on speed, defensive ability, and nearly every aspect of your game.  All due to a 3% drop in total body hydration! 

To stay on top of your game, you’ve got to stay proactive with your hydration!  Don’t wait until you feel thirsty…. ever!  Remeber … if you let yourself get thirsty it’s your TOO LATE!   

Make sure you drink constantly.  Drink before, during and after any physical activity!  You’ll be losing enormous amounts of water (and electrolytes) through your sweat … so keep that steady replacement going so you never have to experience that 3% dip.   

Do keep in mind that when we sweat, in addition to water loss we also lose sodium and potassium.  So it is very important for athletes to replace those electrolytes as well.  Sports drinks fit the bill in replacing electrolytes.   

While there are a ton of sports drinks out there we highly recommend Rehydrate by Advocare.  Rehydrate not only helps the body stay hydrated during physical activity, it also:

• Provides a full spectrum of crucial electrolytes for improved electrolyte balance 
• Provides amino acids to help feed your muscles 
• Fuels your body  with carbohydrates for energy production and sustained muscle endurance
• Contains antioxidants to fight free radicals commonly produced during exercise
• Helps prevent cramping

Rehydrate is not available in stores.  It can only be purchased online or at Athletic Revolution.

As I mentioned earlier, there is no one thing that will make you an elite athlete.  However, there is a combination of things that can drastically improve your game.  Adding more water and Rehydrate to your training regimen can definitely give you a competitive edge.

So, to all of our athletes and champions, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and eat healthy.  If you need want more tips for a great season, be sure to stop by and talk with one of our coaches.

Good luck and have a great season.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 8:54 am and is filed under Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.