How much water should I drink before exercise?

As a general guideline, drink 14 oz. – 20 oz. of water 2 - 4 hours before exercise.

To be more specific:

Drink approximately 0.08 oz. – 0.11 oz. of water per pound of body weight.

Example:

Jack weighs 200 lbs
Jack will need to drink 16 oz. - 22 oz. of water 2 - 4 hours before exercise.

Here’s the math:

200 lbs x 0.08 oz. = 16 oz.
200 lbs x 0.11 oz. = 22 oz.

Drink water 2 - 4 hours before exercise so your body has time to absorb it. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking water at least 4 hours before exercise and drinking more 2 hours before exercise if you have not urinated or if your urine is dark.

Sources: ACSM Position Stand: Exercise and Fluid Replacement
Beth Stover and Bob Murray.Drink Up! The Science of Hydration. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal. March/April 2007


Choose a category below:




 
Fitness Calculators

Use our fitness calculators to calculate your BMI, goal weight, target heart rate zone, and more.



Watch Fitness Videos

See our recommended fitness, nutrition, and weight loss videos.





Stephanie's certifications and experience:


Copyright © 2008 – 2010 Fitness for Weight Loss, LLC.   All rights reserved.   San Diego, CA 92109

|   Advertise   |   Link to Us   |   Privacy   |   Sitemap   |