Fluid & Nutrition > Fluid Plan
During training and playing, the body controls its temperature by losing fluids, and failing to replace those fluids is a major problem. Excessive fluid loss reduces your endurance capacity, power, and concentration and increases reaction time. Losing more than 2 percent of your body weight in sweat is detrimental to performance and health.
Hyperhydrating-raising your body's fluid level above the normal rate-counteracts and reduces the negative effects of fluid loss during games and training.
A practical way to monitor sweat loss is to weigh yourself before and after exercise. Each pound of weight lost equals one pint of fluid, and each kilogram equals one and a half liters. These losses should be replaced as soon as possible by drinking water and sports drinks.
Once you have established your typical sweat loss, you do not need to weigh yourself every time. Practice your fluid plan during the week, particularly for heavy training sessions, and get used to drinking during training. It is advisable to avoid caffeine and alcohol as they can increase fluid loss.
Guidelines for Hydration |
| Hyperhydrate before exercise |
| Drink fluids at regular intervals during training and competition. |
| Use sports drinks to help replace electrolytes and energy |
| Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol (they have a diuretic effect) |
| Weigh yourself pre- and postexercise and calculate your rate of sweat loss. |
| Monitor your urine color: it should be pale, not dark in color. |
© Fitness 4 Rugby League 2005. Fitness 4 Rugby League is part of the Fitness 4 Sport network of web sites. The author and Fitness 4 Sport LLP take no responsibility for injuries caused by attempting the exercises presented on this web site. Fitness 4 Sport LLP recommends that you always learn new exercises under the guidance of a professional and consult your GP before you start |
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