Dehydration Calling

I should have known.

I should have known.

I really should have known.

Should Have Known

Pretty much every time my back has gone out on me, I’ve been able to point to the fact that I was at least partially dehydrated. It has happened with a variety of triggering events…playing volleyball, running, drying my legs after a shower, lifting weights (often squatting or deadlifting) but lack of proper hydration is always an issue.

This time, there was no triggering event. No acute injury. I knew I was on a diet and my body was acting differently so I was especially careful. I ran a very slow 2 miles on the treadmill and then I did some lifting. I purposefully avoided squats and deadlifts as they have been triggers in the past and just lifted upper body. I did bench press, pull-ups, bent over rows and overhead shoulder press.

Pretty sure bent over rows were the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I made it through everything and went to stretch. Then as I was finishing my stretching routine, I noticed some very faint spasming of my lower back. What? No way. I was careful. Couldn’t be. But it was.

20–20

In hindsight, I should have seen it coming. Looking back, I can see a number of factors that I should have paid attention. First of all, I’m on a no/low carb diet. I know that as part of the process, we lose a lot of water as our carbohydrate stores are depleted. That’s the big weight loss at the beginning of any of these type diets.

I noticed that my calves were pre-cramping and barely cramping at night while I slept every once in a while. That never happens. I also noticed some back (lat) and torso (serratus) cramps with certain movements.

Should have known.

My Fault

And then it was completely my fault. I new that with this diet that I should make extra efforts to stay hydrated. For a while, I was pretty good with drinking water. I was good about taking my vitamins (magnesium, etc.). But then over time, I’d started drinking a bit more diet soda. When I first started on the diet soda to satisfy my sweets cravings, I stuck to non-caffinated drinks like Fanta Zero and Diet 7-Up. Over the past week, I’d slipped into drinking Diet Mountain Dew and Diet Coke. Dropped off the water almost completely & was drinking a ton of Diet Coke.

Lesson Learned

I realize that if I embark upon a dietary change, I need to pay strict attention to my body. And I cannot get lazy about doing the things I know I should. I need to stay hydrated. I need to ensure I have sufficient vitamins and minerals. And another thing I’ve slacked on in the past, I need to maintain my stretching regimens regularly.

Oh well, only a couple weeks pentalty (sigh) for my inattention to detail.

Image credit: water drops by fox_kiyo on flickr

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