Water. Ya need it. Ya gotta have it.

The human body is over 70% water, and dumping it down your esophagus is how you get basically all of that. 

(your skin also absorbs water but very.... VERY little. So little it's almost irrelevant. If you'd like to learn more on skin absorption, click HERE.)

As a Vegan, you're probably pretty obsessed with your health. Good! That's a good obsession to have! In that case, it's nothing new to hear about the importance of the nectar of life. The liquid of livelihood. I'm going to do a quick rundown of the health benefits of a fulfilled H20 consumption, and what it's actually doing in your body. The focus of this article however, will be on how to get enough of it, and how to get an excess in order to super-charge muscle growth. If you're on my blog, I'm going to assume you already have heard the numbers on why you need to be drinking enough water. You just want to get over that pesky laziness and make hydration a habit! 

Today, we make it happen. 

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So what is water? What's it doing?

"Water is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance that is the main constituent of Earth's streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluids of most living organisms. Its chemical formula is H₂O, meaning that each of its molecules contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds. Strictly speaking, water refers to the liquid state of a substance that prevails at standard ambient temperature and pressure; but it often refers also to its solid state (ice) or its gaseous state (steam or water vapor). It also occurs in nature as snow, glaciers, ice packs and icebergs, clouds, fog, dew, aquifers, and atmospheric humidity." 

Thanks Wikipedia! As Humans, we need to consume water to supplement the proper inter workings of our cells for repair, growth, and functioning. We are constantly losing water. Through breathing, sweat, excrement, etc. water is being put to use, and exiting our body at a rapid rate. Factors like sickness or  high-energy activity exacerbate this water loss. 

Do You Consume Creatine?

Those that take creatine need to be extra careful that they're taking in enough water. Creatine is a chemical compound taken as a supplement. It's taken for the effect of increased size, and strength. The whole reason that a person is able to grow in size and strength by a small increment almost immediately is because of water. Creatine is essentially just increasing the absorption rate of your muscles. This means that your muscles are sucking up significantly more water than usual. This allows them to be physically larger, while also having more strength. For those that take creatine and do not also increase their water intake, the consequences can be serious. The kidneys will be working extra hard, and will be receiving much less water for standard bodily functions. Kidney shut down is not uncommon for those using creatine with little regard to the processes occurring inside the body.

 

You need water to aid in digestion. As the universal solvent, water is essential in helping your body to break down food into raw nutrient forms. 

Water is the universal lubricant. Your joints, muscles, and tendons would become brittle and fragile without water. As your muscles are made up primarily of water, hydration keeps you STRONG. 

 

What are the results of too little water being taken in?

 

Mild dehydration is a threat to the outlook of anyone with a fitness goal, big or small. Serious dehydration is threatening to your very LIFE. 

So what are the symptoms?

• DECREASED BLOOD PRESSURE
• INCREASED HEART RATE
• INCREASED RESPIRATORY RATE
• DECREASED BLOOD FLOW TO EXTREMITIES

Studies show that most athletes are dehydrated to some degree. You personally should take control of your life and put a stop to it! You're sacrificing muscle acquisition, and impairing regular body function. This applies to ALL athletes. Do NOT think that as a distance runner, you're exempt. The cardio vascular muscle is the heart, and the heart is a muscle!!!!

Take care of it. Lubricate it. Nurture it. And it will grow for you. 

 

So drink or...... do some water!!! Don't let the water do YOU!!!!!

That was a terrible pun. yeesh....

So How Can I Stay Hydrated?

This section is going to be much more personal. I figure it would be tremendously more helpful if instead of citing off a bunch of things you've already read on google, I'll tell you how I personally stay hydrated.

 

 1. Get Yourself A Jug

For starters, I’m a firm believer in convenience. Increasing the convenience of a habit makes the habit much easier to form, and hydration is just that: a habit. Yes, there are different tiers of hydration. The bodybuilder will(should) be trying to consume around a gallon or more everyday. The casual lifter, maybe half that or 3/4 or something. I do think there’s something to be said for personal accountability, however ease of access makes things...well.... easier. This is my first lesson in hydration. 

Lighten the load. While we are in fact upping the daily water intake, we can decrease how difficult it is to get that water. If you’re having to leave class every 10 minutes, or get up from your desk to hike over to the water machine, you’re making it hard on yourself. “Well duh, get a water bottle dingus.” 

It’s not that easy. Even with a water bottle, how much do you get up? 4 times a day? 5 times a day? There are still improvements to be made in this area. You’ve probably seen the guy or gal walking around with the jug. 

“But wait, that person is a douche-bag! I can’t be seen walking around with more than a liter!!!” 

Wrong. Welcome to 2018. When we see people doing things we perceive as foreign but probably purposeful, we no longer call it weird and ridiculous. Now, we take lessons from it. Am I just saying that because I am one of those weird but purposeful people? Mmmmmmmmaaaaaaayyyyybeeeeeeee

Just kidding. No! It is not the ONLY reason, just one of the reasons! 

Again, convenience is key. Carrying a jug really is just convenience. I would recommend using a good quality jug. If you’re going to use a cheap plastic milk jug, might as well be a scrub and use a regular water bottle. I care for you. I don’t want you ingesting bpa and other carcinogenic plastics that leech from cheap material. 

Alternatively, consider buying one of our Jugs. (Jug Plug yall)

They're durable, well made, and hold 2.5 liters of water. This means that 2 fill ups, and you've had twice your daily water intake, enough to put you on the stage at Mr. Olympia. 

You can check out a link for the water jugs HERE

 

2.Chug Brah

 

 

If you cannot control your bladder, and will surely burst and kill yourself, this section should just be skipped over. Did you ever read about the woman who tried to drink more water than anyone else in order to win a dvd player, and died? That is not the kind of chugging we suggest. No no..... this is a calculated chug. A strategic slurp. A tactical gargle.  The idea behind this is to pick a few specific times of the day, and absolutely tank water. Personally, I find that setting quotas throughout the day of how much water should be taken in is extremely helpful (tip 2.5), and so drinking a ton of water in one sitting helps to visualize those daily goals.  Many life coaches will tell you that drinking a glass of water in the morning right when you wake up will motivate you, helping you feel fuller and more energized. I suggest taking it a step further. Absolutely GUZZLE a jug of water when you first wake up. It's so true. You feel more whole. It definitely has something to do with feeling heavier, and fresher on the inside of your body. This transitions us into.....

Tip #3. Change the Way You View Water. 

I find it much more effective to visualize water as though it is fuel. To an extent, I push people to look at food this way, but with water it's much easier. It's a liquid. You poor it, then drink it. No preparation, no nothing. Poor, consume, BOOM. That's it. 

Imagine your body as a vehicle. Envision your goals, and translate them into the perfect version of your physical being. For most people, it's somewhat machine-like. Maybe beast like. Maybe just an advanced human being. Either way, athletes all want to be extra-ordinary to some extent. Look at water as the nectar of life. Look at it as the gas that powers you, as well as the oil that keeps you running normally. This is a mind trick, but it's also a realization. Water IS all of these things. It cleans your body out, and provides your muscles and organs with the elements they need to stay running strong. Abundance yields abundance. The more water you drink, the better off you'll be. Your body will tell you if you're feeling sick, but trust me, drinking too much water is much harder than not drinking enough. Don't worry about that. The more fuel you've got, the better off you'll be. 

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Have any personal struggles with staying hydrated? With any aspects of physical health, we all have our own personal issues. Feel free to leave a comment, or get in touch in the Contact Us section of this website. 

We'll be happy to get in touch with you and help you to become the best possible version of yourself!!!

 

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