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Fuel Belts have been used to break world records, personal bests and have even been used at the Olympic world stage where every effort and every second counts. Our designs have been tested in the toughest conditions around the world and there’s no better example of this than the scorching lava fields of the Hawaii Ironman or the rugged landscape of the Western States 100 Trail Run.

rev·el

1. To take great pleasure or delight.
2. To engage in uproarious festivities; make merry.
3. Run for the fun of it.

Our Mission

The mission of Revel Sports is to celebrate the spirit of participation by providing fun, technical clothing, quality accessories and gifts for athletes everywhere.

The Facts of Hydration

Staying hydrated during the course of exercise is crucial because water is what delivers oxygen to the muscles, fueling them in the course of your work-out. Without adequate fluids, the cardiovascular system is strained, the probability of heat injury skyrockets, and performance is impaired.

The most serious effect of dehydration during exercise is the inability to adequately sweat and cool off. This is more serious than it sounds since the body's chief method of heat loss in a hot-dry temperature can be life threatening. In fact, 80% of heat loss happens through perspiration.

Add to this the fact that it is common for a person to dehydrate by 2%-6% of their body weight during exercise and that as little as 1% weight loss during exercise begins to impair performance. Unfortunately, feeling thirsty isn't an adequate indicator that it's time to drink. By the time a person feels thirsty they are usually dehydrated. Studies show that the average person does not drink nearly the amount of fluids required to prevent dehydration. If water or some other fluid is available, most people will drink only enough to replace 2/3 of the fluids lost.

It's surprising how quickly dehydration affects your performance. With vigorous exercise in hot or humid conditions, you can lose 2-3 liters of water per hour. For a 150 pound person, a 1% body weight loss equals slightly less than one liter. This means a dehydrated state in less than one half hour, serious effects in an hour, and a possible threat to your life and safety in two hours.

There are several ways to ensure proper hydration, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. First, start with a large drink, about 16oz., 2 hours before going out to exercise. This gives your body plenty of time to regulate its fluid levels prior to exercising and helps delay or avoid the effects of dehydration during exercise. Second, during exercise it is very important to drink before becoming thirsty and to drink at frequent intervals to replace fluid lost through sweating. It takes approximately eight fluid ounces of fluid to replace each pound of body weight lost. Third, studies show that people drink more if the drink tastes good. In other words, using a sweetened or flavored drink, such as an energy drink, decreases the likelihood of dehydrating.

Finally, and probably most important, is bringing adequate amounts of fluids with you when you exercise. Unless someone exercises in an area where drinks are available every 15 minutes or so, it's important to carry water with you. Finding a system that is comfortable and works for the sport is becoming easier all the time. Water bottles, easy to use water filters, products like the Fuel Belt, and fanny packs designed to carry water are all readily available; it's important to find a drinking system that works for you and your sport and to use it regularly. Select a drinking system that keeps water cool. The 45-55 F. range is optimal for quickest absorption and cooling of your core temperature.

Be alert to the signs of heat illness and stop exercising until you can get enough to drink and lower your body temperature. Nausea, headaches, dizziness, and a stoppage of perspiration are all indications of heat injury. The good news is that, because 60% of body weight is water, the simple act of drinking 8oz. every 15-20 minutes during exercise prevents dehydration, the resulting heat injury, and increases efficiency and performance.

HYDRATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ENDURANCE ATHLETE

Practical Guidelines Developed by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute

Endurance athletes know that proper training, recovery, nutrition, and the right race plan are all important for success. The same is true for hydration.

Proper hydration can not only improve your performance, but is essential for reducing the risk of heat illness such as heat exhaustion and hyponatremia (a dangerous condition caused by a low level of sodium in the blood).

Endurance athletes lose substantial volumes of fluid in sweat, urine, and respiration, losses that can range from 3 quarts (liters) to over 10 quarts (liters) of fluid over a training or race day. Electrolyte loss – especially sodium, the most critical electrolyte lost in sweat – also varies among athletes, at times exceeding the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt in a two-hour workout.

Protecting your hydration status is the easiest and most important way to optimize your performance.

So what should you do about hydration?

The simplest advice is to drink enough during exercise to minimize dehydration (weight lost during exercise), but avoid the over-drinking (weight gain during exercise) that can increase the risk of hyponatremia.

But how much is enough? That depends on how much sweat you’re losing. You can develop a good sense of your fluid replacement needs by stepping on a scale before and after workouts. If you lose more than 2% of your body weight (e.g., 3 lb for a 150-lb athlete), increase your fluid intake the next time out. If you’ve gained any weight at all, cut back in future sessions. After some trial and error, you’ll become good at gauging your hydration needs under varying conditions.

It’s also important to ensure adequate sodium intake during periods of heavy training and in the days leading up to races, as well as on race day. If you are a heavy sweater or if you finish workouts with your skin and clothes caked with white residue, your diet should contain enough salt to replace those losses and you should favor sports drinks with higher sodium, like Gatorade Endurance Formula.

Remember, you’re unique, so don’t copy what others are doing. Some athletes will need less fluid than you do, while others will need more.

Also, during periods of heavy training, you can help protect your hydration status by asking yourself three questions each morning: 1) Am I thirsty? 2) Is my urine dark yellow? 3) Is my body weight down more than 2% from the day before? If the answer to at least two of those questions is “yes”, you are probably dehydrated and need to increase your fluid intake during the day. No need to overdo it though. An extra quart (liter) or two spread out over the day may be all you’ll need to restore hydration.

Hydration

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Hydration, Water Belts
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Revel Sports
1903 Weston Ave
Schofield, WI 54476
Toll Free 866-502-4125

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Last modified: 04/29/08