Reminder: Stay Hydrated Throughout the Weekend

As we roll into an extended holiday weekend with a forecast of hot temperatures, it's important to make and keep a hydration plan for your celebration. If you skimp on the water, you'll be in for a miserable time.

For years social media posts have circulated about "cold water shock." Supposedly it's what happens to the human body when we're really hot and chug a cold beverage. Rumor has it that the mix of a hot external body and an ice-cold core makes for sore muscles and nausea... Not to say it doesn't happen, but it's not "cold water shock," it's likely dehydration.

I used to experience this on the regular when mowing the lawn, but as I've grown older, working in this heat takes more energy in the natural process of aging. When I asked my doctor about it, he laid it out on the line for me. It's directly a result of not getting enough water throughout the day and suddenly hopping into the deep end with a one-fail swoop.

My legs would get sore, a calf cramp or two, plus my fingers would get stiff and painful as if I had arthritis or something. It wasn't so much the cold water as it was the drinking of just water. I would spend hours sweating electrolytes and apparently failed to replace them. All the same, it wasn't recommended to double up on the sugary sports sodas either.

Having a good balance of liquids is key to enjoying the evening after a long and hot day. Water is the foundation of life, you can't go without... but you can also enjoy a carby, salty beer too and still remain hydrated and balanced throughout the day in moderation. They also say this is how you avoid the hangover the next day too, but I think that has more to do with moderation than anything.

If you plan on playing at the lake, park, pasture, et cetera throughout the weekend, it might be a good idea to pack some cheap pickles too. Between the vinegar and salt, a quick hit of juice or a bite of the veggies can make all the difference in the world as to how you feel.

Whether you manage to blow a finger off or not is a completely different, yet somehow related different story.

Best of luck.