Water/losing salt during exercise - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

AladdinJay · 08-01-2006, 09:56 PM

Hi everybody,
I recently went on an all-water diet. I drink nothing but water. No juice, no soda, no milk, nothing but water. But the problem is, I do intense exercises in the blistering summer heat -- such as the mile run and intense biking. I sweat like crazy. I've read that if you drink too much water with exercise, it can kill you because I'm not replacing the salt levels that I am losing through the sweat.

My question is, is what I am doing intense enough to put me at risk? How can I replace the salt levels if I am drinking nothing but water? It worried me that I'm not getting the proper nutrients for my body, and that with everything I'm doing it's actually doing more harm than good.

Thanks to anybody out there who can help me!

Zepper2006 · 08-02-2006, 08:04 AM

I hope it's safe to assume that you are eating? If so, you get more than enough salt through that. Unless you're exercising for hours and hours, you need nothing but water during your workout.

Jonistyle4 · 08-02-2006, 09:49 AM

don't know how long your "intense biking" is, but with just a one-mile run, you've really got nothing to worry about. it's just not a long enough duration, you know? i'm also assuming you're eating enough, so you're probably fine. if you're really worried, eat a pickle or two to replenish sodium in your body (works the same as Gatorade). but really, you're probably fine.

AladdinJay · 08-02-2006, 12:15 PM

Yes, I am eating! Sorry for not making that clear!!

OK, good to know it's safe then. I just heard one of those warnings on the news that exercising in extreme heat while drinking water can kill you, since when you sweat you lose nutrients and other things that water can't replace, so wanted to make sure it was safe.

The biking is really an hour and a half at most, then usually a mile run.

Thanks guys!!