I work at a Line-X shop. when I'm spraying a liner I wear those tyvek disposable coverals, they're like those plastics you wear to sweat and lose weight. It's not air conditioned, and I'm in a confined booth spraying bed liner that comes out at 200 degrees. And sometimes I have to run a 50,000 BTU/HR heater to heat the truck bed. Anyway, it's pretty hot in there and I'm in there working 8-12 hours a day. I can't seem to drink enough water to stay hydrated (judging by the color of ... well you know) I have a big plastic cup I dunno I'd venture and guess it's about 40oz. I drink shoot prolly 10-12 of those of water a day. But I guess just sweat it all out, when I get out of those coverals I'm completely drenched in sweat. Besides just drinking more, is there anything I could do that would help me stay hydrated? I have a buddy that used to be a personal trainer, and when we worked outside he'd water down gatorade about 50/50 water/gatorade and drink that. He said there was too much sugar and something else in Gatorade and it was great for you that way. should I try that out, or something like it?
thanks
-matt
p.s. sorry I can't get you a deal on a liner. I can't even get myself a deal on a liner. I've been bugging my boss to run a promotion like, so many dollars off for FTE members, but he doesn't seem interested.

 

yes, your friend is exactly right.

my friend is a SEAL and runs upwards 50 miles a week or so, hot, cold, doesn't matter, when we were working in greece, he told me to mix the gatorade 50/50 also, he said it is one of the best ways to stay hydrated.

i been doing it since and never had a problem.

edit - further more, when i was going through cancer treatment, they also said (though i already knew it) to mix the gatorade 50/50 to stay hydrated, its even harder to stay hydrated during chemo sessions then anything else.

 

Gatorade, Powerade or similar will give you the electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, and others important minerals) back you lose while sweating. It's not just water alone you need. You do need some Glucose that is contained in either. Just not as much as you might think.. The nice thing about Gatorade is it does come in powdered form so you can mix it to suit your needs.

Learned this years ago living in the desert here where it gets well over 120 during the hottest parts. My park ranger son tells me the department keeps huge amounts of the stuff for the rangers to mix in thier water coolers.

 

Drink Endurox R4....all the time at work....you need Magnesium, Calcium and the rest of electrolyte balance chems....potassium, sodium, and a bit of B-6.
You should be able to get it at any bicycle shop in your area.

 

A tip if you mix your own Gatorade (or other powdered sports drink)...

However much water you're going to use, use about a 1/4 of that and BOIL it, then mix the powder into the hot water. After you have all the powder mixed into the hot water, dilute to the strength you want. It tastes better this way because the powder is fully dissolved and stays that way.

I know what you mean...I've had days where I was FULL from drinking water, but was still dehydrated at the end of the day.

Jason

 

thanks, I'll stop on my way to work today and get some gatorade and try that out.
-matt

 

Have you ever tried to use a Camelback? It's like a small backpack with a bladder in it for keeping water in...or Hurricanes...depending on how close to Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street you are. They worked out really well, were very lightweight and manage to stay out of the way pretty well. They have a hose and a mouthpiece that comes out from the bag and you can just clip it near your mouth--like on the shoulder straps--or someplace else (to keep dirt / spray off it).

It's not necessarily a new drink or anything, but it'd definitely be a quicker way to hydrate then running over, getting out of your suit, filling up, etc.

http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/...elbak-all.html

 

I was going to say the same thing. You can wear it under your suit and always have access to water.

Remember that if you are thirsty you are in the first stage of dehydration and the best thing you can do is drink straight water. I only give my teams gatorade before games and it is cut in 1/2 to 1/3. They state that they hate it, but when they drink it after some exercise it taste better.

 

i work in a factory and it is bad there too but i weld and we get away w/ anything we want in the heat ( what r they going to do replace the hole department over a 15 minute break )
i drink a lot of water with a little lemon juice in it
one guy eats watermelon... it is mostly water
when u wash ur hands get ur whole arm with cool water it will cool ur body faster and rinse off ur face ... ur head is a thermostate for ur body
logically light clothing nothing heavy or tight

 

You lose 70% or so of your body heat through your head and neck. I would take a few wash cloths and a small cooler full of cold water/ice mix and soak them in it. Then, just wrap them around your neck or head to cool you off. I did this a couple summers ago when I was doing some landscaping, and it helped tremendously!

And yes, I was also going to suggest a Camelback

 

I've worked in hot conditions all my life. I drink several gatorades a day plus about 3 liters of water for each one liter gatorade. It works for me cause when I don't drink the gatorade my hands cramp & I feel dehidrated.
When I was self employed, I furnished my men ice water plus I mixed a 5 gallon cooler of Gatorade every day during the hot part of the yr. I used the hot water method to mix it so it didn't settle during the day. My employees all claimed it helped their thirst better than plain water. I was trimming new homes & it gets very hot in them during the summer in the south. Even with 4 /24 inch high velocty fans going it still stays hot in a house when its 90 degrees & hotter. I made my guys take several water breaks during hot weather. I found I got more & better work done by taking a couple of 15 minute water breaks morning & afternoon.

 

well I stopped at a gas station this morning and found an 8 pack of 20oz powerades. I drank four of them mixed 50/50 with water throughout the day and I was not as dehyrdrated this evening. I have the plastic bladder and hose from a camelback I used to take backpacking. But I already drink weather I'm thirsty or not, I don't think I would drink more, and it would be hot to wear. I'll go get some of the powder gatorade when I get the chance and try boiling it.
what is Endurox R4?
thanks
-matt

 

I do the Gatorade mixed full strength with some sugar thrown in. Plus, I eat salt chasers with the Gatorade or water. I can tell when I am reaching my limit because I get hand or foot cramps while chainsawing. Which means it is time to soak my head in cool water and more salt. Tossing down a full spectrum vitamin (non-iron) helps too. I like having diluted chilled black tea too. I would suggest skipping coffee.

You might want to try a cooler bandana that welders wear. Basically soak it in water and put it on your head. As you heat up it evaporates.

You can get stuff that looks like long underwear that cops and troops wear under uniforms to help keep them cool.

You know ... what you really should be wearing is a full body breathing suit that pumps in cool fresh filtered air to your helmet and body. The lower costs ones are around $1200 though just the helmet ones are about $400.

 

Watch out rebocardo, full strength gatorade is already extremely high in sugars and sodium. Adding more can be dangerous. A lot of people think its logical to be replacing all of those nutrients but the high amount of sodium can be bad.

 

never heard of mixing gatorade with water. never drank gatorade because it was too sweet for me anyway