The Heat Drink In Cool Weather?

As the weather is starting to turn a bit cooler (here in Texas it means 100 degrees down to 90), I get a lot of questions about the use of Eload(TM) Heat Endurance Formula in cooler weather.

Now first off, heat is relative to where you live. In Texas for instance it's pretty normal for the gauge to redline at a bit over 100 degrees. In many of the northern states, some people burst into flames if temperatures even think of getting near 95. Our current cool spells here in Austin have been around 88-92 degrees.

When a relatively cool spell comes about(even if it is 90 compared to 100), people suddenly think they don't need many electrolytes anymore because they "feel a lot cooler than last week". This obviously is much more the feeling when people are training in the winter.

So what gives? Yes, your electrolyte output slows in colder weather, but so does your fluid loss. The problem is many athletes switch from sport drinks to water during the cooler weather months because they feel that they don't need the electrolytes. This is horribly untrue and whoever started this rumor should be sacked!

Why not water? Okay, if you were in need of a blood transfusion, would you say it's okay to use half blood and half saline? Probably not. So why when we sweat do people chose only to put 1/2 or less of what's lost back in their body? Obviously this is an extreme example. The results of putting 1/2 blood back in the body are much more disastrous than putting 1/2 the electrolytes back. But where do you want to draw the line for your body? Is 1/2 as good good enough for your body? Why would you put none of the electrolytes back by using water?

More smack talk about water - Water shuts off your thirst mechanism. It thins your blood/sodium balance needed for muscle function, cell absorption, and blood pressure control. Water bad! Some would say that it's okay for exercising under 1 hour. Sure, you won't die or you probably wouldn't notice a performance difference, but for whatever effort you do have in under an hour, your recovery will not be as optimal. Why are you working out? If I'm going to train for any amount of time, I want it to pay off as much as possible, period!

So if Eload(TM) is made for the heat, then how could it be good for the cold? Simple. Fulfilling what your body needs in the heat is the most difficult task to undertake. Everything less than hot weather is cake after that. If you made a drink to only perform in the cold, then guess what? It probably won't do so well in the heat. Got it? Need a flow chart? :)

Here's a link to a fluid intake calculator or as I'd rather refer to it as, an Eload(TM) intake calculator. This will help determine if you are consuming enough fluids(Eload) during your exercise. http://www.eload.net/Calculator/FluidCalc.htm

Now go electrolyte yourself! Cheers!