Hydration Equation:

The other day, between training sessions, I watch as a steady stream of exercisers paraded past the front desk; most of them purchasing one sport drink or another. Often Gatorade, of Powerade, or Propel. It really is astonishing how many members purchased these drinks...some even had two or three! I'd be willing to bet sports drinks outsold water by 2-to-1!

The desire to consume a beverage like this is likely fueled by smart marketing, and savvy advertising - the average recreational exerciser is making a mistake by drinking these; for several reasons.

First, these drinks are often laden with sugar, or sugar substitutes. Both of which are equally bad for you, for a variety of reasons. Sugar is a HUGE enemy in the fight to lose weight, and maintaina healthy weight. Sugar substitutes are little more than laboratory chemicals, whose long term effects we're not just beginning to understand.

Also, many sports drinks have sodium in them. This added sodium is actually there for a good reason: It induces thirst, so you drink more water. However, few actually drink water - they simply reach for another Gatorade.

I'm sure this all sound confusing...so let me explain. Sports drinks are designed for athletes exerting themselves at an extremely high level. These drinks include sugar for fast energy, sodium to induce thirst (and thus more water consumption for hydration), and electrolytes. The electrolytes are there to replace what is lost through sweat.

The issue with recreational exercisers drinking these sports drinks is that many simply don't exert themselves at a level necessary for a sports drink. The sugar only adds calories, making weight loss and weight maintenance more challenging.

So? What should you drink? Water. And for those of you who insist on replacing lost electrolytes, there are electrolyte enhanced waters (Smartwater). These enhanced waters give you the hydration benefits of the sports drink without any sugar, and without any calories.

Now I'm sure people will argue this point with me, and that's fine. Please feel free to email me: Info@fit2youfitness.com. I'm always up for a lively debate.

As always - If you've got it, flaunt it. If you don't, get it with us! Now get up, get out, and get fit!

--The Fit2You, Fitness team - Philadelphia's premier provider of health, wellness, and personal training...we come to you!