BY SASHA SHKORUPEIEVA
Do you notice yourself having low energy throughout the day? Or maybe you have random headaches or mood swings? I think everyone can relate to an extent. Before trying to figure out why you aren't feeling your best on a given day, start paying attention to how much water you drink from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to bed.
Our lives are busy and there are tasks all of us have to accomplish, BUT let’s not forget that self-care is a priority and it starts with something as simple as staying hydrated.
As a former student-athlete, I can say with confidence, that staying hydrated did not just help me win 3-hour tennis matches, but it also helped me get through long study sessions, travel days and even stressful finals week.
So how did it help me with all of these tasks?
Imagine going without water for the next 6-8 hours? That is how long we sleep on average every night. Naturally, when you wake up in the mornings, your body is dehydrated. That is why it is important to drink a glass of water when you wake up. Water will help fire up your metabolism at the start of the day and help your body flush out toxins! Your metabolism is also what burns calories! Drinking water is essential to weight loss, as well.
As you go through your day, it is very easy to forget to stay hydrated. Remember, water regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints. It helps transport nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. I hear so many people complain about the headaches that they get during the day. Before taking Advil or Tylenol, try drinking a glass of water first, because most of the times, you are just dehydrated.
As many of you know, I am tennis coach and I love my job. But it breaks my heart to see my students feeling dehydrated within the first 5 minutes of playing tennis. Most often that happens from not drinking enough water prior to stepping on the court. Let’s not forget that you need to stay hydrated before you step on the tennis court or do any physical activity. Ideally, you want to start drinking 12-16 oz. of water 1 to 2 hours before working out.
It’s much harder to rehydrate when you’re already dehydrated. That leads us to the next question. So, how much water is enough? That depends. DO NOT WAIT TO FEEL THIRSTY TO DRINK WATER! As I mentioned earlier, you should drink water throughout the day. However, do not wait to start drinking water when you get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, that means you are already dehydrated.
Here are a few tips that can help you stay hydrated throughout the day:
· Set alarms on your phone for when to drink water.
· Buy a cute water bottle that you will want to use every day.
· Try putting lemons, cucumbers or mint in your water to mix things up.
· Be careful when drinking sports drinks! 99% of them are high in sugar and lead to further dehydration.
I hope you find this read helpful. Let’s make the world a healthier place by staying hydrated!
Oleksandra (Sasha) Shkorupeieva
coach and assistant manager.