Training & Nutrition - How much is too much... water?

I have been hydrating for tomarrow most of the last few days. Today I am stuck behind a desk at work... and drinking from my 1.5 L bottle the last 8 hours. Well I have had not one, not two but three bottles of water, that is 4.5 L of water in the last 8 hours.

I understand that too much water can depleat sodium in your body and that they have to be replensihed. Are their any other effects of drinking "too" much water? If their is what is the limit?

Why are you drinking so much water? It sounds like you can't really control your intake. Maybe you should talk to your doctor.

Your racing a crit tomorrow, not a 100 mile road race through Death Valley.. Proper hydration is important but you do not need to overdo it.. Make sure to at least carry 1/2 waterbottle with you during the race..

I know you have had some lackluster results lately, but be positive, gets a good nights sleep.. I always make sure to drink a full bottle of Accelerade or whatever you use the morning of the race..

Try keeping towards the front 1/3 of the field, do not get too excited and pull too much.. Finishing with the field and seeing how you fare in the field sprint should be your goals.. Remember most breaks in the lower categories will fail, they usually will be field sprints especially on such a flat course like tomorrow..

GOOD LUCK...

I have been hydrating for tomarrow most of the last few days.What do you mean you are hydrating for tomorrow? Unlike camels, we humans do not have an organ that stores water for tomorrow. If you mean that you have a race or a big ride tomorrow, and that you are hydrating for that, you will need to drink just before, during and right after the event. I don't think it will help to load up on water a day before the event. I have worked with patients who drink too much water. Yes, sodium levels in their blood get too low. Sometimes they get very confused and can't even take care of themselves. This is not a good way to be if you have a big event coming up!

That 8 glasses of water a day is a pretty good guideline for most people.

And for further information regarding hydration and over-hydration, check the articles in this site: http://www.ultracycling.com/nutrition/nutrition.html

Especially:
http://www.ultracycling.com/nutrition/hyponatremia2.html
http://www.ultracycling.com/nutrition/electrolytes.html

Thanks,

I drink water when I am bored, better than eating candy or something. On a normal shift at work I drink 2 L of water but that is on a bike for 4 - 8 hours. Today I am stuck behind a desk (still am right now) and I am still drinking water. It was always under my impression that if you are well hydrated going into the race day you will be better off then trying to hydrate fully only on race day, maybe that is wrong.

For the race I went out on Wednesday and rode the course (I live 6 miles from it) and it is quite flat, only two little climbs. Of course things could get nasty if their is a wind like Wednsday (35 MPH in ontario, headwind into the second climb).



know you have had some lackluster results lately, but be positive, gets a good nights sleep.. I always make sure to drink a full bottle of Accelerade or whatever you use the morning of the race..

Try keeping towards the front 1/3 of the field, do not get too excited and pull too much.. Finishing with the field and seeing how you fare in the field sprint should be your goals.. Remember most breaks in the lower categories will fail, they usually will be field sprints especially on such a flat course like tomorrow..

GOOD LUCK...


Thanks for the advice, at this point it would be a victory for me to stay with the pack. As you know I am just out there getting experience this season. I do not have the strength yet to keep up with the more seasoned racers but I try. I feel strong this week and I hope that translates into a better race, my LT test earlier was very encuraging. I will be there most of the day so I can take in some other cats before I go at 3:10pm.

Are you going? If so good luck!

While at work I drink enough water thoughout the day so that I have to pee about once an hour. I typically drain two Bill Miller's Texas Tea Buckets (folks from Texas will know what these are) worth of water. One before lunch one after lunch.

Too much water can lead to hyponatremia. See that website Machka provided for a great explanation of symptoms and how to properly hydrate:

The best thing you can do is just stay properly hydrated all the time. I say instead of drinking like you're at a trough before an event, just do your best to drink adequate amounts of water every day. I haul around a 20 oz water bottle and fill it a minimum of 4 times a day. If I'm dilligent, I fill it about 6 times a day.

Stay hydrated all the time. It'll be the easiest answer for you over the long run.

Koffee

That 8 glasses of water a day is a pretty good guideline for most people.

Heh! I drink everything out of pint glasses. So just over 4.5 litres should be fine? :p :D

Giving recommendations in highly variable "units" such as glasses, is pointless...

Probably meant cups (8 oz. or 240ml).