I don’t understand this one. There’s this belief out there that you need to drink a ton of water daily to effectively lose weight. While it’s true that we need to be properly hydrated, especially if you’re doing lots of exercise, the fact is that there are many more people who are over-hydrating than under-hydrating. Oh, and you won’t lose more weight by peeing more.

Unless you’re running hard for more than 30 minutes at one time, there’s most likely little to no need for carrying a water bottle or water source with you. Your body is pretty good at being properly hydrated if you drink before a 30 minute run. You cannot possibly deplete your hydration if you are properly hydrated before a 30 minute run within said 30 minutes. The problem arises for those who are not properly hydrated before they go out for a run.

Does being properly hydrated help you lose weight? Sure. We need lots of water for our bodies to process foods properly during digestion, and a part of that is being hydrated enough to flush wastes effectively. But, the fact of the matter is that your body is really good at telling you when you need a drink. It’s a mechanism known as thirst. If you are thirsty, drink.

Are all drinks made alike? Of course they are not (and you knew this). Do you need Gatorade, Powerade, or any other kind of ade if you run 2-3 miles? Most likely not. You have to be engaged in some very seriously tough physical activity to need electrolytes. Unless you are training for a marathon or 10k+, you likely will do well enough with water. If you want to get crazy, maybe add a slice of lemon or a slice of cucumber to your water.

The other important thing to note is that a lot of those “Ades” have a ton of sugar in them; in some cases, as much (or more) than a can of soda. I avoid them. Instead, I prefer to drink coconut water-based drinks post-workout. They contain some carbs which help with muscle recovery, and they are refreshing.

So, with all that said, there’s no need to carry around the jug of water you need to drink every day. That’s just too much. And in case you’re wondering: yes, too much water is bad for you (and can even kill you). So drink when you’re thirsty, pre-hydrate before your exercise sessions, and you will be fine.