Olympic athletes monitor several aspects of their body when training for the games, but one in particular can influence their performance: sweat rates.
We all do it, some more than others and some heavier than others. No matter the size, it makes a huge difference to Olympic athletes.
Sweat rate is how much someone perspires while running, swimming, biking or just sitting still.
2 Works for You chief meteorologist Brett Anthony visited the OU Physicians Family Medicine Performance Lab to test his sweat rate.
“Take someone in before they are going to exercise get them down optimally to be naked and weight them,” said Dr. Lamont Cavanagh, OU director of Center for Exercise and Sports Medicine.
First, Brett worked in a controlled climate to keep his heart rate up.
Every pound lost is equivalent to 16 ounces of water and in half an hour -- Brett lost about one and half pounds.
So, Brett has a sweat rate of 48. Essentially what that means is Brett should drink around 48 ounces of fluids per hour to stay hydrated while exercising.
“Everyone is different. It’s affected by genetics, it's affected by age, affected by temperatures outside."
If you are exercising outside, with temperatures soaring, be sure to double the sweat rate and the amount of fluids you intake.
