You are here  The Fit 5: Hydration for Athletes  Our fitness
expert answers your questions about the importance of proper
hydration for athletes.   1) Dehydration Detection— asked by
Robert Cosgrove:  What's the easiest way to detect dehydration
and how will it effect my weight training?  “Your greatest
natural detection system for dehydration is thirst. But,
unfortunately, by the time this warning sign kicks in you are
likely already dehydrated. As little as a two percent loss of
hydration will effect performance in the weight room, so you
want to make sure that you hydrate before and during your
session. A foolproof way to see if you are doing an adequate job
is to weigh yourself before and after your session. The pounds
you lose during training are almost entirely composed of water,
so ending the session lighter than you started is a good sign
you didn't take in enough fluids.”  2) Recommended Water
Consumption — asked by Jon Herman:  What's the recommended
amount of water to consume for training athletes?