Although dehydration is mostly linked to aerobic performance, new evidence shows that dehydration affects anaerobic performance significantly.

In a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, mean power decreased 7.17% in the upper body and 19.20% in the lower body in active males.  Fatigue severity was significantly increased 70% in the dehydrated compared to the euhydrated condition.  So the next time that you feel like you can’t generate your usual power at the gym, consider your hydration levels.

Here are the top signs that you could be dehydrated at the gym (before you feel thirst)

• You feel dizzy after completing a set.
• You start to feel a headache coming on in the middle of your workout.
• Your power output is lower than usual.

You may not feel the physical symptoms of thirst like dry mouth, but you still need to remember to fill up on water or an electrolyte drink before your next workout.