Month: March 2019

It’s almost 35 degrees out – uncomfortable & sweaty, but I’m not complaining; it serves as a great reminder of just how important it is to stay hydrated especially in heat like this. I normally drink about 2 litres of water a day (we lose 2.5 litres during the average day, regain 1 litre through food, and the remaining 1.5 litres is supposed to be your drinking water… but I like to build in some extra!). In these pictures shot in Saint Tropez, en-route to Pamplonne, it’s more like 3-4 litres a day – I literally got through 8 of these 50cl bottles in the 24 hours. Water must be the most important ingredient we can give our bodies, which are 60% water anyway – it’s critically involved in pretty much every bodily function we humans are capable of. It improves overall well-being and quality of life in so many ways and will certainly improve your ability to achieve your training goals.

Click MORE below to read my 8 reasons for staying optimally hydrated, and a couple of tips to spice up the bland taste

WHY DRINK WATER ???

1) TRAIN HARDER – Water facilitates the delivery of oxygen to muscles and helps the body perform physical activity more efficiently. Essentially, the more water inside the muscle cells, the better they function, more readily increasing in strength, size and capacity. Just as the giant redwood trees needs water to grow tall & stay strong, so do we!
2) TRIM DOWN – when the body is dehydrated it will hold on to fluid, causing bloating and weight gain. It retains extra water from cells – including fat cells – to make up for the fact that it’s lacking water. With less water in fat cells, there is commensurately less mobilisation for energy!
3) WAKE UP & CLEAR YOUR HEAD – suffering from low energy-levels, headaches and hunger can all be signs that you’re not drinking enough water. So instead of popping another paracetamol or mistaking thirst for hunger (leading to overeating), try drinking a glass of water, as it’s a natural appetite suppressant.
4) COFFEE, ALCOHOL & SALT – Ever felt monstrously bloated after a heavy night out? Alcohol (along with coffee, tea and “popular colas”) all act as ‘diuretics’, forcing water out of the body, leading to dehydration. Too much sodium also contributes to both dehydration and fluid retention. Yet another reason we should always read the food labels, and eat fresh, clean food without funky additives!
5) CHARGE YOUR METABOLISM – The kidneys remove toxins but in a dehydrated body, their function is inefficient and the liver has to work in overdrive-mode. The liver metabolises fat, and if it can’t do this effectively enough, it can lead to weight gain. Essentially, it slows down your organs and the whole system becomes sluggish & inefficient.
6) PURIFY THE BLOOD – c. 90% of your blood is comprised of water. Not having enough water present in the system can cause the body to steal some from your blood instead. This in turn can cause small vessels to close, thickening the blood and leaving it more prone to clot as it’s more difficult to pump it around the body. The problem here? High cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension. Bad.
7) SOAK IT UP – Water absorbs different nutrients in food & transports them through the digestive system, leaving the nutrients better and more readily absorbed by the body.
8) LOOSEN UP – It keeps your mouth and eyes moist as well as lubricating joints and muscles decreasing the risk of cramps and sprains, so you can lift heavier, just a bit easier

SPICE UP YOUR WATER !

It’s a must! No excuses – BUT here are some of my favourite tricks to help ease the monotony of drinking more!
– Water with cucumber.
– Water with strawberries & lime.
– Water with lemon
– Water with orange slices
– Water with blueberries & rasberries
– Water with ginger
– Water with fresh mint leaves

Wearing: Top from Zara, White jean shorts from Hennes, Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag, white espadrilles.

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