We've all been there – you find yourself at the gym, exhausted simply from walking through those doors. You head over to load up weight onto the squat rack barbell and are struggling with brain fog and lethargy that has been relentless all day long - but why? It's not because you're not motivated – every other day this week you've managed to crush your workout in the pursuit of your goals. 

READ THIS BEFORE YOU REACH FOR MORE CAFFEINE...

It's also not because you're under-caffeinated – you've had two iced coffees in the past 6 hours and yet you're still considering grabbing a pre-workout energy drink from the gym vending machine. Moreover, it can cause you to feel jittery, anxious, and increase your heart rate. Caffeine can also lead to dehydration, which can make you feel tired and fatigued. If you're feeling these effects, it's best to cut back on the caffeine or avoid it altogether.

Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps promote the production of urine. When you drink caffeinated beverages, you will urinate more often. This can lead to dehydration if you are not drinking enough fluids to replace what you are losing. Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue. To avoid these effects, it is important to drink plenty of fluids when you are consuming caffeine. Water is the obvious choice, but you should also consider drinking fruit juice or electrolyte supplements. Just be sure to read the labels carefully, as some of these drinks can be high in sugar.

WHY HYDRATION IS KEY TO ENERGY

If you find yourself feeling tired and foggy-headed during or after a workout, it could be due to dehydration. Throughout the day, your body loses water and electrolytes through sweat, spit, breath, urine and others. If you don't replace these fluids, your body will become dehydrated and you'll start to feel the effects. 

To avoid dehydration and the fatigue and brain fog that comes with it, make sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. You can also replenish your electrolytes by drinking a sports drink or eating foods like bananas, oranges, or tomatoes. Electrolytes can also be found by eating salty foods like chips or pretzels before activity as well as during it with a hydration support drink. 

The body needs a balance of nutrients, water and oxygen to function properly. This is why maintaining an adequate intake or taking supplements can positively impact your exercise routine as it helps keep you hydrated during intense workouts while also preventing symptoms from getting worse such as cramps which may happen when our bodies don't have enough salt available due its proximity with sweat glands not working efficiently without him/her doing something about it immediately because they're so close together!

FIND AN ELECTROLYTE SUPPLEMENT

If you're exercising for more than an hour, you may want to consider a clean, powdered hydration supplement that contains electrolytes. At DOGPOUND, we created THIRST TRAP as a great option for those looking for an electrolyte drink that tastes great and doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners or flavors. 

It also has 80% less sugar than other leading brands like Liquid I.V.®, so you can feel good about what you're putting into your body.

With these tips in mind, you can stay hydrated and avoid any problems that arise you CRUSH your workout. 

Stay safe and stay hydrated!

 What are your favorite tips for staying hydrated during a workout? Let us know in the comments below.