Leave your mark on the floor.  Then we mop it up… 🙂

WHY ARE YOU DRINKING WATER DURING THE WOD?

CrossFit ain’t easy.

I’d be lying if I said that it were easy.  It’s simply not.  Matter of fact, in the realm of mental challenges, it’s one of the harder things I’ve ever done.

With these things in mind, I do make sure I drink enough water during the day.  If it’s with a meal, just plain water.  If it’s by itself, throw a little pinch of regular, good ol’ fashioned, table salt in there.

Clear pee isn’t necessarily a good thing.

“SO, WHAT THEN, I DON’T NEED TO DRINK WATER DURING A WORKOUT?”

I’m not saying that, at all.  In fact, if your goal is to be competitive in this sport, being dehydrated is not only dangerous, it will drastically decrease your aerobic capacity.

…what?

Meaning, if you worked out doing a MetCon fully hydrated, and then came back to the same MetCon later that week and this time you were dehydrated, your performance would suffer.  And probably not just by a little…

Absolutely, you must stay hydrated!  And why the salt in the water if you’re not eating?

Well, have you ever noticed that when you’re drinking large amounts of water during the day that you are still thirsty?  Ever wonder why your pee is clear and you’re still thirsty?

You could still be dehydrated simply due to the fact that your body is not absorbing the water you’re drinking.

Solution?

Add a pinch of table salt into your water bottle (not enough to change the taste.  Trust me, you won’t notice a difference in taste) of water and drink away.  Adding salt won’t be necessary if you’re eating food at the same time, however.

“WHEN DO I DRINK WATER, THEN, WHEN I’M TRAINING?”

This question has more to do with what your training is for that day:

For instance, if you are running a long race or doing a training session that lasts for an extended duration (ex:  think 30 minutes or longer), chances are you need to be hydrating as you go.

…and as in a previous post, just in small amounts (too much fluid in means it’ll probably make its’ way out the same way it came in).

Think running a 5k, half marathon, extended cycling session, longer WODs like “Murph,” or anything that has you sweating (or depending on the situation, not even sweating [ex: swimming for example]) for a long period of time.

But (and this is a BIG “but”), your hydration doesn’t start at the race or at the beginning of the training session.  It should have started well before this.  If you are starting your hydration battle at the beginning of a training session, you are already in a hole.

“OK.  LONG WORKOUTS.  SURE.  AND SHORT SPRINT-STYLE WORKOUTS?”

Now, here is the crux of what this whole blog is about…

…I am not in any way saying you shouldn’t drink water during a training session or a WOD.

…I am also not saying that I am going to belittle anybody who is drinking water during a training session or a WOD.

…I am simply asking for putting a little thought into why you’re doing it.  This is a mental check for creating mental toughness.

If the WOD, or the training session, is something that is highly dense (ex:  rounds for time or an AMRAP) and it is short (say, less than 10 minutes in total length), ask yourself this question:

“WHY AM I STOPPING WHAT I’M DOING TO TAKE THIS DRINK OF WATER?”

If it’s because you have some really bad cotton mouth and can’t breathe or swallow, then absolutely.  Take care of that!

…gross.

If it’s because you are taking a planned break during the WOD, sure.  I understand that too.

But if it’s because you are looking for a short mental break from what you’re doing, then this might be a good opportunity to work on some mental toughness.

AGAIN, DO NOT TAKE THIS AS “HE’S TELLING ME THAT WATER IS FORBIDDEN!”  I’M NOT.  I’M SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO TAKE A MENTAL INVENTORY AS TO WHY YOU MIGHT BE STOPPING TO TAKE A SIP OF WATER.

If the workout is short, and in 2 minutes or 1 or 2 rounds, you’ll be done?  Tough it out.

You’ve been staying hydrated outside of the gym, right?

You’ve been taking care of yourself, otherwise?

Then, take a mental inventory and say to yourself, “I’ll be done in 2 minutes.  I can drink all the water I want after that…  AND, I’ve got the rest of the day to continue to stay hydrated!”

Remember, the bulk of your hydration does not come during the training session.  In fact, you should be taking good care of the amount of fluids you’re drinking and adding a pinch of salt, here and there, when it’s necessary to ensure you are absorbing it to the greatest degree you can.

Water during a training session is important and I will never deny water to someone.  I will say, however, mental toughness, at the end of a workout is something I know I need to work on.  Do you?