Few people realize from the very beginning just how essential water is to the success of their workout program. Although multiple sources of information exist out there, from magazine articles written by physicians and exercise experts to all sorts of advice materials available over the internet or at one's gym facility, the importance of drinking the adequate water quantities has not been adequately understood by most people; not even by those who regularly exercise and have managed to improve their muscle mass and tone.

Some people go as far as to confuse the water intake with people's intention to loose weight. But the fact is that the essential place of water in one's diet extends to everyone whether they want to loose weight, gain weight or stay at the same weight. This is true for many reasons, apart from the most famous one: that 60-70% of the human body is being composed of water. Since exercise, breathing, and any other human function, leads to sweat and water being extracted from the human body, people should plan ahead and replenish the lost water quantities regularly. This is essential if people do not wish to experience the dangerous state of dehydration. As a result, because our mere existence is directly related and affected by our water intake-this being the most important element of the human body-we have to drink as much water as necessary to keep our physical state healthy and be capable of performing any type of action.

People should start paying attention to their water intake 2-3 hours before getting to the gym or begin jogging. In addition, drinking at least 2-3 cups of water during the exercise routine is considered a must, as well as consuming another cup immediately before the start of the exercise. Without this extra water before and during the exercise the body becomes dehydrated and muscles will not work as effectively as they should. This means that a less water-based workout will not produce the same results as one that is. Thus, once the exercising starts, people have to continue drinking water frequently. Keeping a bottle of water near the treadmill or on the floor beside your weight lifting machine, acts as a reminder that water has to enter your system for it to work perfectly and be at its best state. A good rule of thumb is to drink one cup of water every 15-20 minutes of physical workout.

Finally, replenishing the water one lost during a workout session is essential for keeping the good results your body just experienced and maintaining good mental health. Experts recommend another 2-3 cups of water within two hours after the completion of any type of workout. In fact, the more water you drink the more productive your workout will be.