Dehydration is a significant hindrance to successful training. People have different ways of maintaining a balanced electrolyte level, but nothing is further from the truth. Bodybuilding demands a regular supply of electrolytes such as sodium to help overcome cramping and calculate hydration needs. It is important to note that the extensive drinks you like taking may not give you what you need regarding electrolytes. Some athletes freak out when they notice extreme dehydration, such as salt crystalizing around their eyes, but it could also mean you have enough electrolytes. The rule here is to balance remaining hydrated and having the required electrolytes. This article will discuss electrolytes' importance to a bodybuilding newbie.
Electrolytes are elements and compounds your body needs for various functions such as digestion and cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous functions. These chemicals come in the form of ions and include:
These minerals are taken not only after training but should also be taken before and during training. Preloading helps maintain a chemical balance during exercises, thus ensuring your body doesn't stretch beyond the limit. These minerals need water because they can only break down into small ions in the presence of water. Only then can the body assimilate them to help in various bodily functions. Most importantly, electrolytes put a check on bodily fluids to ensure a needed balance. Most electrolytes are found in blood and cells, thus enabling distribution to every body part.
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As mentioned earlier, electrolytes create a working balance in the body. However, different electrolytes perform specific bodily functions, as indicated below.
Although everyone is required to include electrolytes in the diet, their uptake should increase when training. That is because exercises tend to shift the body's chemical balance significantly. Most importantly, electrolytes help perform vital body functions such as muscle contraction when exercising. As a beginner in bodybuilding, electrolytes will ensure your body doesn't shut down after you begin training. You need proper muscular contraction, especially the heart muscles, to do the heavy lifting.
A newbie's body needs boosting before any exercise. You need a little electrolyte boost as much as you need to hydrate before hitting the gym. The body's chemical balance is normal at this stage, but that will soon change as you begin lifting. However, many people don't know that the boost comes minutes or hours after taking the electrolyte and water.
Taking electrolytes and water an hour or so before exercising would be best. The time difference is essential because you must give the body enough time to digest and assimilate the minerals. Apart from the minerals, your heart also needs water pre-training to ensure a smooth pumping of blood to the core and extremities. Remember, most of the work will be done by your limbs, so you need to pump energy and vital minerals to those regions.
Electrolytes before training or preloading also give you the stamina to keep going even when fatigue comes knocking. Most importantly, these chemicals help regulate the body temperature; hence you can keep training even when the temperature increases.
Preloading electrolytes are available in nutrition shops near you. Established nutrition outlets have found a way of balancing individual ions to give you an all-around supplement. You will come across products such as Bindilyte that will provide you with the electrolytes necessary for preloading.
As you might have noticed, fatigue sets in when the body exhausts its reserves of electrolytes and water. Therefore, one needs to replenish them to avoid muscle cramps and other effects that come with fatigue. However, during short training sessions, bodybuilders tend to get dehydrated rather than running out of electrolytes. Take small amounts of water regularly as you train to avoid dehydration. Electrolytes, on the other hand, should be taken between individual exercises at intervals of one or two hours.
New bodybuilders should take electrolytes in small quantities during training so as not to overwhelm the body. For instance, you should take smaller amounts of the electrolyte at one-hour intervals rather than only taking a considerable part in the beginning. Electrolytes supply the body with energy, thus helping you build endurance.
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Now that you're done with training, it is time to return your body to its original state. After a workout, your body will have exhausted or significantly reduced most minerals and water. You must take post-workout hydration and electrolyte products to overcome fatigue after training. Most importantly, your muscles must contract and relax smoothly after the exercise. You need to replenish the energy you've used while lifting or doing any other form of exercise. Sweating and heavy breathing come with excessive loss of water and minerals. If these substances are not replaced immediately, no amount of eating or rest can make you feel better.
Nutritional shops have stocked electrolyte products to help restore your body's chemical balance. For instance, bulk powders and sachets are rich in vital minerals for this purpose. Most importantly, several sugar-free electrolyte mixes don't alter your blood sugar. Also, minerals help your mind maintain clarity after an intensive workout. The most critical post-workout minerals include magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.
You now know that electrolytes play an essential role in daily body functions. But what happens if you don't take electrolytes as required? A lack of electrolytes in the body can cause more damage than you can imagine. Electrolyte deficiency has short-term and long-term effects that negatively affect your life and bodybuilding career.
Short-term effects include:
Long-term effects include:
The topic of electrolytes and bodybuilding is relatively new, and many newbies may not have all the information. These are the questions being asked about electrolytes in various bodybuilding forums. We shall try as much as we can to give accurate answers to help you with your bodybuilding career.
The body does not lose electrolytes as fast as it loses water. Therefore, electrolyte intake during training should be at longer intervals, say after an hour or two. Remember that taking too many electrolytes causes faster dehydration, thus making you drink more fluids that are not good for your training.
Males tend to sweat more, meaning their replenishment rate is more than females. However, there is not much difference in electrolyte needs, so it is fair to say both men and women should take it at the same interval. Similarly, guys with smaller bodies should not treat themselves differently when taking them. Take as much and frequently as the big guys because the effect is the same.
No method has been agreed upon, but here is what can guide you. Take between 15 and 25 ounces of fluid containing vital electrolytes for every pound lost body weight.
Several drinks are infused with the electrolytes you need for your bodybuilding. While most of the foods are manufactured, there are natural ones with a balanced composition of the required minerals. A good example is fresh milk. While looking for the right drink, avoid drinks with a lot of sugar and calories. The best drinks are those 4-9% carbohydrates per 8 ounces. The glasses should also have between 120mg and 170mg of sodium. The bottom line is to have all the vital minerals in the same drink in balanced proportions.
Salt, a significant mineral source, is vital for your training as an upcoming bodybuilder. Electrolytes are why you don't burn out or feel awful during exercise. Many newbies make the mistake of taking too much water and overlooking electrolytes when working out. Without electrolytes, your muscles might not contract properly, and you may also experience fatigue as your energy drains out. Always carry a bottle of your favorite drink with electrolytes as you head to the gym. Take a sip at one-hour intervals, and you will be surprised at how much you can do with that bottle seated by your side.
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