Tag Archives: hydration

25 January 2012

Hydration Goal

By Nicki

There are so many ways that dehydration effects people. Unfortunately, we are all more or less dehydrated. During warm months, I do not find it hard to be sure that I am getting enough fluids. Once the heat leaves – which can be any time after mid-September – and is gone to stay, I find it much harder to stay hydrated.

I have noticed, just lately, that I feel sluggish and have had issues with headaches. Because of this one of my big goals for this year is to be sure that I stay hydrated. Just drinking water is one way but when the wind chill outside is below zero, it is hard to convince myself that I want to have a bottle of cold – or even room temperature – water. In the cold months I do drink a lot of herbal teas which do count as hydrating as they are not caffeinated. I just cannot possible drink enough.

Let’s take a recent eight mile run. It was in the 20s outside, even though the sun was shining. I took 16 ounces of water with me on the run and did not finish the entire water until after returning home and showering. Not having water during the run did not prevent me from perspiring. My shirt layer closest to me was totally drenched with sweat when I removed it. Now some of this could have been overdressing but I doubt it as I was not hot at all during the run. The point is that I was sweating but not necessarily, even throughout the remainder of the day, replacing the fluids I lost.

I am making a separate hydration goal of at least 70 ounces of water during these dry winter months on top of whatever other fluids I take in during the day. This will be difficult for me but I will attempt to keep up and will try to post weekly how I do.

Do you stay hydrated? How much water do you drink in a day? Does it vary by season?

3 comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Fitness, Just my Thoughts

18 July 2011

Vemma Thirst: Product Review

By Nicki

A while back a good friend of mine gave me a disc and a sample of Vemma Thirst to try.  This is an item that is out there in the hydration market but is an item that is sold through what I would call network marketing.  It is available through brand partners.  Anyway, I was given a packet that is to be put in 16 ounces of water to make a hydration drink.

Photo from Vemma.com

The directions say to put one sleeve of mix with 16 ounces of water and shake.  I put 16 ounces of water in my normal, 24 ounce water bottle and shook.  I stopped and then shook again.  I, then, topped off the water in the bottle and shook some more.

 

The first sip I took was not a good thing.  Back in the early 80′s when I was in college, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis.  The doctor gave me a diet to follow along with taking Metamucil once a day.  Realize this was 30  years ago.  Powders did not always mix well into a liquid and Metimucil tasted gritty.  So did this product.

 

The Thirst was also too strong flavored for me.  Considering I had already put an extra 50% more water in the bottle, I was unsure if I would be able to drink this on my long run.  Not a good thought as it was HOT and I had 14 miles on my plate.  At about mile 7 of the run, I took what was left in my other 24 ounce bottle of water and mixed it into the Thirst to attempt to cut the flavor/taste even more.  I did eventually finish it off but not until I stopped to go to the bathroom and left it in the fridge to cool.  I finished it off after the run was over.

 

This is not the first mix that I have had trouble with mixing.  There was mix still in the bottom of my bottle when I finished.  That grosses me out.  On top of the gritty, too strong taste, the mix did not thoroughly mix.  I would not recommend this item to anyone.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Fitness, Product Reviews

16 July 2010

Coconut Water – Product Review

By Nicki

Okay, so not just any coconut water.  I want to tell you a bit about Vita Coco Coconut Water.  You are probably thinking I have lost my marbles.  I have to tell you when I first read about coconut water on Runner Dude’s blog, I hesitated.  I don’t like coconut.  I don’t like it shredded on cakes, in foods, in drinks like, say, a pina colada.  I go out of my way to stay away from these items.

While I am not a huge fan of straight sports drinks, I do realize that the replacement of electrolytes is essential.  I cannot do this with other drinks and sometimes, the heat and the intensity of the run have just made wanting to eat veggies and fruits impossible.  I have managed, to date, using GU energy gels, Jelly Belly Sports Beans, and low-calorie G2 – a Gatorade product.

Then, I read Runner Dude’s information about coconut water.  It has no added sugars.  This is a big plus because it is the added sugars in the sports drinks that disagree with me.  Coconut water has five essential electrolytes in it that need to be replaced.  The largest electrolyte in coconut water is potassium.  You will frequently find athletes eating bananas to help get potassium.  Coconut water has 15 times more potassium than a banana.  I sweat a lot.  The word should probably profusely.  If it is over 50F out, my clothing – whether wicking or not – is going to need to be wrung out when I get home from a run.  I have had cramping issues in my legs during one race to date.  After that race, I started getting myself more hydrated, if possible.

Vita Coco Coconut Water w/ Pomegranate and Acai

Vita Coco Coconut Water w Peach and Mango

I did not try the 100% coconut water without another flavoring in it.  I was overly concerned about the whole taste of coconut.  My first forays into coconut water were with two different flavored versions from Vita Coco (you can follow them on Twitter at @VitaCoco).  I am a pomegranate fanatic so the pomegranate one was first on my list.  There are 20g of sugar in this but also plenty of electrolytes.  I loved the taste but highly recommend it be served cold or over ice.  My second try was the peach mango flavor.  This seemed a bit thicker.  I do not think I could drink this while running but after definitely.

I strongly suggest you try Vita Coco Coconut Water.  I haven’t found any other brands locally and purchase this at Wegman’s.

4 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Fitness, Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts

9 January 2010

Winter Is Here

By Nicki

My skin is my true barometer of when winter hits where I live.  I can always look out the window and see snow or rain or clouds or sun.  I can always look at the calendar and see dates – days, weeks, months.  I can always look on the television or the computer and see temperature and wind chill.  But, once my hands start to crack and bleed – I know, gross and probably TMI – I know winter is here.

About a month ago, I noticed my heels getting rough.  This roughness is usually what I experience in the summer as I wear Birkenstocks most of the summer.  I also have issues in the winter when my feet get dried out.  Why do they get dry in the winter?  It is a combination of things.  The air is dryer in the winter here in Upstate New York.  I tend to get more easily dehydrated as I drink less water in the winter.  I try to compensate by drinking more herbal teas but this does not always help.  I also neglect my feet as they tend to be in “something” – socks, slippers, shoes, boots – all the time.  I put moisturizer on them after showering but that is not enough in winter.

Yesterday, true winter hit with the first hand cracking.  I have always had issues with the skin on my hands – thanks, Mom!  When I was diapering with cloth two to three children a day, I broke down and went to the dermatologist.  The doctor was a wonderful man and after two visits, I had a diagnosis.  He diagnosed me with contact dermatitis.  In looking back, I am not sure this was a correct diagnosis but he mixed me up a salve that the pharmacist had to spend a couple days on and my hands did improve slightly.

Every since that time, I have had very little issue with my hands except in winter.  I keep them in gloves – non-latex to be safe – when doing dishes.  I have white cotton gloves that I use when cleaning the house to prevent irritants from coming in contact with my skin.  I do my nails but not often to prevent irritation from both polish and remover.

So yesterday I ran outside in rather cold, snowy weather.  I got back to my car – yes, I had to drive to a trail to run as the roads were too dangerous – and took off my gloves.  My right thumb had cracked and my left one is looking to follow soon.

Now, what do I do?  Many things are now on the help list.  I will make a conscious attempt to drink more water as staying hydrated will help.  I will be sure to apply some lotion on a regular, many times a day basis.  I will drag out the Bag Balm and wear cotton socks or gloves to bed at night with Bag Balm on my hands.

I will get my hands back in shape.  They are probably the body part that most shows my age and I would prefer they don’t.

15 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

11 July 2008

Hydration

By Nicki

I know that hydration is extremely important to casual athletes, serious athletes, the young, the old.  Our bodies need water to help with the processes of daily life.  In the heat and humidity that signify summer in upstate NY, we may need water more than just when we are exercising. 

Training people, and it is a training exercise, to hydrate before it is necessary takes years.  I have spent a lot of parenting time explaining the importance of hydration with water, as opposed to sports drinks, to my soccer players, tennis players, bicyclists and golfers.  While all understand the importance, I think I have finally found a statistic that will drive home my point.

I have Versus’s Tour de France coverage on as I am working in the mornings for the next three weeks.  Today is the second of two early mountain stages that are not the big mountains – not the Pyrenees or the Alps but just mountains.  There are rules that prevent riders from going back to team cars to pick up additional water on climbs.  These rules are in place for any number of reasons but the most important is rider safety. 

The hydration statistic that I am sure will drive home importance to the athletes in my life is, and I paraphrase, five percent dehydration results in a 20% decrease in efficiency.  There is nothing an athlete wants to do more than be efficient, whether it is in running, kicking, batting, hitting or cycling.  So, for your own safety and your own efficiency, be sure to be hydrated.

2 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Family, Fitness, Just my Thoughts, School Sports, Sports

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