Hello fighting squirrels. I am happy to say I have seen many squirrels lifting weights and using the aerobic equipment. I also see a lot of you drinking various sports drinks. My recommendation to you is, STOP!! Stop drinking the sports drinks, don't stop the exercise. I am old enough to remember when lemon-lime Gatorade first came on the market. At that time Gatorade was THE sports drink. Today there are numerous sports drinks on every shelf of every store. It is a multimillion dollar industry. The companies producing these drinks have done a great job of marketing their product. They have us believing we are healthier and stronger by ingesting their scientifically designed nectar of the gods.
Sports drinks do serve a purpose - for athletes, but (no offense) many of you are not athletes. You are people trying to stay in shape or to get in shape. Your use of sports drinks may actually be keeping you from reaching your goal. Sports drinks are designed to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates lost during STRENUOUS exercise. According to Michelle Rockwell a sports dietitian in an article in Training & Conditioning, "sports drinks should be chosen over water for any exercise event lasting longer than one hour." Her recommendation is to use, what she calls, the 3-H rule. Use sports drinks when exercise is Hard, Hot and at least an Hour long. Most of us do not work that hard or that long on a regular basis. Even many athletes do not need sports drinks every day. Our cross country team drinks water during most of their workouts.
Think about the exercises you are doing. Remember an hour of exercise does not include the time you are talking to your friend ( in person or on the cell phone) or texting. Walking 1 mile burns approximately 100 calories. A 20 fluid ounce bottle of Gatorade contains 130 calories. Do the math! Here's another chance to use your math skills. Compare the price of that 20 oz bottle of sports drink and the cost of a sip of water from the water fountain. Remember, most bottled water is tap water in a plastic bottle that was filled at the factory. You can skip the middle man and get a drink from the fountain or fill your own bottle and save some money. Maybe you can save enough money to pay off your college loans. Well maybe not that much, but you will save.
Many people believe they are being more health conscious by choosing a sports drink over a soft drink, but be aware of the calories in both of these choices. Calories in water, zero. I am not advising you to never use a sports drink. I am warning that most of us do not need them on a regular basis. Use the 3-H rule and save yourself the expense and the calories of a sports drink by drinking water.
March on squirrels!!
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