subject: Do You Get Enough Fluids? [print this page] How do you know if you are not getting enough fluids? Check off the questions that you can answer "yes" to:
1) Is your skin dry? If you wrinkle it or pinch jt, does it take awhile to "bounce back?"
2) Is your urine dark? It should be a light yellow.
3) Are you frequently constipated?
4) Do you get groggy or headachy part way through the day?
5) Do you have a lot of trouble staying cool - or keeping warm?
A "yes" to anyone of these questions does mean you're not getting enough water. Any of these conditions could be lessened by taking in more fluids. However, every one of these problems or complaints can also be caused by something other than dehydration - sometimes by something very serious. But normally you can feel safe prescribing "extra water" for yourself to get your body to perform at its best.
We usually think of dehydration as related to physical exertion, heat stress or illness, but you can get seriously dehydrated without any real effort and under cool conditions. You realize that you're getting dehydrated when it's hot and you're sweating, and even when it is hot and dry and you don't notice the sweat. But, cold air is dryer than hot air and you can get even more dehydrated in cold weather; compound the low temperature and low humidity with altitude and you can lose 2 quarts an hour without realizing it.
Keep yourself hydrated by avoiding these factors that contribute to dehydration or, if you can't avoid them, anticipate the need to stay hydrated by drinking enough VITALYTE when you know you're going to be losing fluids, like when you're taking a trip, going skiing, summiting a 14'er or having one too many on a Saturday night and remember Scott Tinley's advice: "You've got to keep thinkin' drinkin'!"
