Too much water?

[PurplePoodle]

I sweat really easily doing exercise and could just drink water constantly.. Today I only cycled 5 miles and have nearly drank 2 litres of water! It's awkward for cyling aswell having to take so much with me so is there anyway to decrease what I drink without feeling so desperate to drink it? Really feel like I'm drinking too much when I'm cycling.

 

[MattHB]

That seems like an aweful lot! I just started another thread on a similar subject oddly.

If you sweat lots try drink with electrolytes in it, from what I've read it's the depletion of salts that makes you thirsty.

 

[snorri]

It would worry me if I broke sweat on a 5 mile trip, but then maybe you are going a lot faster than me.
I think you would have to tell us what sort of speed you are averaging over the five miles, flat or level road?

 

[MattHB]

It would worry me if I broke sweat on a 5 mile trip, but then maybe you are going a lot faster than me.
I think you would have to tell us what sort of speed you are averaging over the five miles, flat or level road?

When I started I was soaked after 5 mins, let alone after five miles. It's all relative

 

[PaulSecteur]

When I started I couldnt do 2 miles, and by then my bottle was dry!

Could you give more details about your fitness history with cycling and other sports, how long have you been doing them and if they make you thirsty yoo?

 

[ColinJ]

That does sound pretty excessive! I drink quite a lot compared to many cyclists and I'd only get through 2 litres in about 50 miles.

Ideally, you'd only drink enough to make up for any fluid loss on your rides. Weigh yourself before you go out and when you get back and see if you weigh more, less or the same.

Apart from it being a pain having to carry so much water, there is also a danger of water intoxication if you really overdo your intake.

Do you only have the thirst problem when exercising?

 

[marzjennings]

2 litres of water for 5 miles seems an awful amount of water. If you're hydrated enough before the ride you should need to carry any water for 5 miles. How long is the 5 miles taking you? Do you drink enough water during the day?

 

[MrJamie]

I sweat a lot with exercise too, like a ridiculous amount, always have done. It does seem to get a bit better as fitness improves, maybe less puffing and panting at moderate speeds and less overheating too. I find i have to underdress a fair bit so that its comfortable when i warm up.

Thinking about it, its more of a mental habit now to pace myself with my water or id get through it very quickly. When i stop at a pub in the summer, i quite often have a pint of water or coke first to stop myself sinking a couple of pints within 5mins of sitting down.

 

[marzjennings]

I sweat a lot with exercise too, like a ridiculous amount, always have done. It does seem to get a bit better as fitness improves, maybe less puffing and panting at moderate speeds and less overheating too. I find i have to underdress a fair bit so that its comfortable when i warm up.

Thinking about it, its more of a mental habit now to pace myself with my water or id get through it very quickly. When i stop at a pub in the summer, i quite often have a pint of water or coke first to stop myself sinking a couple of pints within 5mins of sitting down.

Neither beer or coke will hydrate you as well as a simple glass of water.

 

[PurplePoodle]

I was recently tested for diabetes as I can drink loads during the night. One morning I got up and there was 5 cans of empty coke next to my bed because they were the nearest thing to the kitchen door to drink.

5 miles probaly took me 30 mins but I had a break inbetween. Was just flat ground along the canal. I'm the same no mater what sport I do. I used to compete in swimming and was the same with water. I recently trained to be a life guard and was constantly drinking water inbetween the training. And I wasn't exhausted or anything feeling when I needed a drink. It's putting me off cycling too far as I know I will need more water!

 

[MrJamie]

Neither beer or coke will hydrate you as well as a simple glass of water.

Yeah I usually carry 2*800ml water bottles with me. What i meant though was that like PurplePoodle exercise does seem to make me ridiculously thirsty, id quite often return from a cycle or run and gulp down 2 pints of water in quick succession. Theres obviously unfortunate side effects of drinking at that kind of pace with alcohol before the journeys over

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Seems a lot to drink in such a short distance, what did your test reveal? I commute six and a half miles each way and don't need to drink over that distance.

 

[numbnuts]

Do you have a leak ??

 

[PurplePoodle]

Was all clear the tests.

Normaly I pee loads after drinking water but I've only went once since I got back so I'm guessing my body was needing the water!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Neither beer or coke will hydrate you as well as a simple glass of water.

That's not necessarily the case ... IIRC water uptake is enhanced by the prescence of sugar and other solutes, so actually full fat coke will hydrate you quicker than pure water. It's partly why milk is such a good recovery product because it hydrates you faster than water.