Hydration Nation Redux

When I first talked about hydration I complained like a grumpy old man about the virtues of water. I talked about how if you work out less than 90 minutes or are not a professional athlete you can probably just drink water and fine fine and save money. However, I realize that some of you may still want to drink sports drinks so today I am going to be like a grumpy old man about ...

That's right, Gatorade. The original sports drink. The deal, as we all know, was that Gatorade was designed to replace electrolytes. It was developed by the University of Florida (hence the colors and the name) (also hence why Florida State won't drink it) to rehydrate players. It was pretty amazing stuff and was ahead of its time. Yet now we poo-poo Gatorade. "It has carbs. It has sugar. blah blah blah." So now we have different types of Gatorade. In fact they have three of them.

Aptly named 1, 2 and 3. I mean really? I remember when it only came in three colors. (Green/Yellow, red and orange for you kids out there) You'll notice I said colors. I was never really able to associate a flavor with them. I mean red really doesn't have an identifiable taste, but then neither does Gatorade other than to say it tastes like Gatorade. But I digress.

You'll notice that the label also identifies it as "G Series Pro." Pro as in professional. By definition I don't think Woggers are professional athletes. Ergo my argument about water being fine. If you do need electrolytes but don't want the carbs try Smart Water.

On a side note, I'm embarrassed to admit when I first saw a bottle of Smart Water I thought somehow it would stimulate brain activity.

Anyway, I don't see why we feel a need to have three types of Gatorade. If three colors were enough to get us through the '80s and '90s shouldn't that be enough now? Surely. But apparently we were lucky to survive as a species without three types of Gatorade. Now we need to drink #1 before we work out, #2 while we work out and #3 after we work out (or as they like to put it "to recover" which makes it sound like you have survived a tragic event, which maybe you have: the tragedy of over marketing).

So I say to all of Wogger Nation: Just say no to three types of Gatorade. If Steve Spurrier could win National Championships in Football with one type of Gatorade surely we can go to they gym and live to tell about how we only drank the red, or even worse, from the water fountain.

Keep fighting the fight Woggers and I will see you Monday. Have a great weekend!

I am NOT a morning person.

The title pretty much says it all. I am not a morning person. I'm like Batman. While others sleep I stand vigilant throughout the night. Well, I at least like to stay up.

Some of you may be wondering what this has to do with Wogging. Well as you recall in my last post I was lamenting how I am having problems making exercise a priority. So, as my life is going through so much change in the last few weeks, I reckon this is the time to make exercising a priority and make other things fit around my Wogging and not the other way around. My assumption was that I would Wog the night away.

However, it seems that I have made a false presumption. As my daughter just completed her first day of Middle School she brought home many forms and calendars. Since she is also in the band, I came to the realization this evening, as I was going over the myriad events already planned for the school year, that my evenings may no longer be mine.

And that's ok. I guess it's just part of being a parent. But let me whine here for a moment. I already get up at 6. I always tried to make it a personal goal not to get up any earlier than that. If I could somehow figure out a way to work 10-7 instead of 8-5 I would do it. But this is my lot in life, and if I have to get up at 5, well I guess that's what I have to do. I would normally say here that I don't have to be happy about it. But you know what, that's not a good way to live life.

I have many blessings and am very fortunate that, in the grand scope of the World, my life is very comfortable. So if my greatest current hardship is getting up at 5 a.m. I will try to do it with a smile on my face.

Also, my good friend and Wogger'sWorld Citizen Saleem inspired me by the fact that he gets up at 4 after seemingly coming to the same conclusion I have. 4 a.m. Wow! There's no way I could get up at 4. My new personal goal is to never wake up before 5.

So tomorrow we shall see how it works. The alarm will go off early my friends so I shall leave you now. The 1/2 Marathon is looming and I have a lot of work to do but with your help and encouragement, and you all have been so encouraging, I know I can do it. I just wish I could do it in the evening!