water consumption/drying out last week or so

[beefneggs123]

Hi guys,

 

Interested in thoughts please.

 

A friend of mine is competing in the nationals this weekend and has been comsuming 10 l of still water daily before drying out.

As myself and my partner are competing for our  first time next year ( aiming for September ) Im curious about the water type and what youy guys do.\

My friend uses still water only , bought a shit load from countdown and knocks it back, my question is do you guys follow the same M.O ie use only still water , or do you use filtered? . Thoughts and rationale please

 

Cheers

[Rebel101]

Purists would say deionised water is the best but when considering this issue you have to look at the big picture and check all the sources of sodium that may affect your prep.

it would be silly to go to the extent of deionised water only to use a sodium loaded toothpaste foe example!

Look at the big picture!

[Pseudonym]

Yeah, I've used Pure Dew distilled water in the week before a comp. I couldn't say whether it makes a difference or not. As Rebel says, there's a lot of other factors that could also affect your sodium. But this is relatively cheap compared to all the other parts of contest prep, and at least it made me feel like I was doing everything I possibly could!

I can't see what the benefit would be in using ordinary still/filtered water though.

[Gym rat]

I am not much of a fan of the water loading aspect when it comes to the last few days of prep . Which would include the stuff what I have read about water loading like people going to the loo every half hour etc. dropping water that's fine with me

[Wolffenbuttel]

Is there actually any real science supporting water and sodium manipulation? I've only ever found support against it when I've done some research, usaully along the lines of fluid/electrolyte balance is kinda important so homeostasis tends to undo anything you attempt to do that alters it?

[Riccardo]

Is there actually any real science supporting water and sodium manipulation? I've only ever found support against it when I've done some research, usaully along the lines of fluid/electrolyte balance is kinda important so homeostasis tends to undo anything you attempt to do that alters it?

No there is zero research specifically trying to manipulate subcutaneous water in healthy people. Having said that, water follows solute, carbohydrate is the easiet thing to manipulate as your balance of sodium/potassium/chloride is tightly regulated and any change you make is likely to be unpredictable and fleeting.

Water loading and depleting is also a stupid idea, your muscle is 70% water, I dunno why anyone would want to restrict water intake, the second you drop or load water, your body will produce hormones to maintain homeostasis. The most simple and effective protocol is to stay well hydrated right untill the day of the show, glycogen deplete 6-7 days out and start loading around three days before a show to give you plenty of time incase you "spill over". It is also kinder to your stomach.

 

[Wolffenbuttel]

Cheers man thats what I thought