The Importance of Hydration

Without water, your body would virtually stop working properly! With water making up more than half of your body weight it becomes evident that a person will not be able to survive for more than a few days without it... at most.

Now, bringing you back to the hockey world, water plays a large importance when training and performing.

If the instructors at GDI started to charge goaltenders for each time they forgot their water bottle for a session we would probably be rich by now. The act of drinking water almost seems routine. But, at the same time the it should be considered essential for all of your athletic needs.

Jeff Fisher - EL1TE Performance - recently posted a great article related to the importance of hydration.

{...the key to your next EL1TE Performance whether it is on the fied, RINK, or in the gym is HYDRATION....

...as most of you already know...blood is the VEHICLE that transports the "good stuff" to working muscles (fuel, oxygen) and the "bad stuff" (acid and waste products)...

...when we loose water from the body...through sweat and other means...if we aren't replacing the fluid we actually loose blood volume...

...meaning...the vehicle that gets the good stuff to our working muscles...can't move as much...and the bad stuff (i.e. Lactic Acid...the "burn" you get from training hard) is harder to remove from our muscles...

...so, as we approach the "dog days of summer"...let's make sure we are taking in enough fluids...

Here are a couple of tips to make sure you are properly hydrated:

1- Don't rely on thirst to get you to drink...funny thing is thirst is a poor indicator of hydration level, if you are thirsty, chances are you are already dehydrated!!!

2- It takes time to hydrate properly...our athletes receive their own personalized hydration plans 1 week out of a major race...or game. Start increasing your fluids 3 days out of a game or race for a good start!

3- Electrolytes...the salts that balance off hydration levels...if you are racing/ playing, make sure you speak with an expert before supplementing either Salt or Potassium...try to consume them through natural sources...BANANAS for Potassium is a great place to start.

4- Lastly...start with 3 litres of WATER per day...not including your juices or milk...Use 3 litres of water per day as your FLUID FOUNDATION. With all of the other fluids you consume, soon you will be body will be ready for most of your physical endeavors.

Success is not a coincidence...it is a choice...make it yours.

Until next time EL1TE Nation,
Onward and upward,
your pal,
fISH}

The Importance of Hydration