Training Advice

A hot environment and water balance.

Some people feel they should drink as little as possible when working or when it is very hot because, "if you drink just a little, you perspire less". However, studies have shown that sweat production is rather independent of the body's fluid balance. Moreover, sweating is the mechanism which prevents overheating of the body when it is warm or when heavy work is performed. Therefore, under such conditions sweating is very desirable.

If fluid is not replaced at the same rate it is lost, performance capacity and fitness decline and the feeling of exertion increases. Heart rate and body temperature rise abnormally. Thus you should drink deliberately, possibly even more than thirst "orders" when you sweat. But you should not drink too much at a time nor drink very cold drinks.