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View Full Version : How do you know if you're getting too dehydrated?



ManVsIron
07-12-2011, 03:11 PM
As an example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dillett


At the Arnold in 1994, Dillett froze on stage, a result of cramping from dehydration. Four officials carried him off the stage, still in his pose.

I remember reading about that some years ago, about how he was taken to the hospital, and it was determined that he was actually close to death when he arrived. Totally frozen in a pose, and carried off stage by 4 men, still in the pose. That's crazy.

So anyway, all this advice along the lines of... "very low sodium intake... and go ahead and drink a whole lot less water until you're basically dehydrated, brah", totally flies in the face of my natural instincts. But I guess you have to do it, if you want to compete.

For me, dehydrated is if I drink less than a liter of water over the course of 4 hours. So preparing for a contest would be totally uncomfortable. I don't want to risk dying... trying to look good in a bodybuilding contest, so how do you keep it totally safe and healthy, but still achieve your optimal look?

BigPicNut
07-12-2011, 03:20 PM
A fair amount of reading on this forum will help lead you away from teh act of dehydrating, or sodium manipulation.
There are some tweeks that can be made but not nearly as extreme as many of the old school, uneducated, and very enhanced athletes tend to do.

Muscles are meant to hold water. The body is meant to be in balance.
Screw with it, and you might screw yourself right out of 20 weeks of dieting..
ANT

MassFreak2063
07-12-2011, 05:04 PM
I was fine....until the next day...then I started having BADDD leg cramps...if you're going to use a diuretic ere on the side of caution for sure

simpleguy4
07-13-2011, 03:47 AM
If you even think you may be dehydrated...then you are already too dehydrated. If you think you must cut water to get that dry, hard, grainy look.....you are very mistaken and need to do some research. Check Layne Norton, Tommy Jeffers, etc...they are on these boards. I personally do 2 gallons throughout prep including Thursday, reduce to a gallon the Friday before and drink as I need on Saturday....no problem getting the look I want.

AustrianOakJr
07-13-2011, 04:26 AM
You know you are too dehydrated if you are thirsty. Plain and simple.

red_cat
07-13-2011, 06:42 AM
You don't need to dehydrate to get shredded. Period.

MassFreak2063
07-13-2011, 06:57 AM
And none of you are pros or even 200 pounds on stage.....for that matter I'm not even sure the "experts" you referenced are....surely not pros...perhaps 200 pounds MAYBE