OH! Magazine - Australian Version March 2018 | Page 7

( Fitness & Motivation )
HYDRATION HABITS FOR
MICHELLE
BRIDGES
GOOD HEALTH
Michelle Bridges explores the importance of hydration for optimum health.
ven though the weather is cooling
down (or it’s supposed to by
about now), you still need to be
mindful of your hydration.
E
Becoming dehydrated has negative
effects not only on our cognitive brain
function (lack of alertness and ability to
concentrate – aka brain fog), but also on
our ability to train effectively. Did you
know that losing as little as two per cent
of our body weight through dehydration
can result in a loss of 30 per cent power
output (i.e., see ya later squats
session!)? Of course, being hydrated also
makes us feel crappy, with dry eyes,
muscle cramps, headaches, fatigue and
more – it’s a lot of hurt happening over a
lack of hydration, right?
People living in warmer climates (hello
Aussie summer!) are much more likely to
be dehydrated than those in cooler areas,
and for those in warmer isles who are
working in physically demanding jobs or
training hard, it’s pretty much impossible
to stop the sweat-fest that occurs as a
result.
So if we can’t stop our bodies sweatin’,
we have to make sure that we are
frequently topping up our fluids, in order
to stay hydrated, healthy and happy!
The key here is to choose your hydration
appropriately, and to hook into it
regularly.
Hands down, H 2 0 should be your number
one drink of choice. We’re super
fortunate that in most of Australia and
New Zealand, our water is good to go
straight out of the tap! By all means if
you want to filter it, go for it, but you
need not fear drinking it straight.
Get yourself a drink vessel that’s easy to
hold and simple to transport. If you’re
choosing plastic, make sure it’s BPA
free, or opt for glass or stainless steel.
Remember, the best choice is the one
you’ll actually use, so imagine your daily
life and picture what will suit you best.
My MB Active range has a great number
of drink bottle options, which you can
check out here.
Get set into a drinking routine. First
thing in the morning, have a glass of
water while you fill your drink bottle. As
you head into your day, set your goal for
how many times you want to drain your
drink bottle (setting a goal means you’ll
be more likely to get it done). Then set a
recurring reminder or download an app
on your phone to alert you to drink up
– just make sure you action the alert
whenever it comes up!
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE VIA:
Web: michellebridges.com.au
Facebook: Mishy.Bridges
Twitter: @mishbridges
Instagram: @mishbridges
OH! MAGAZINE ( MARCH 2018 )
7