By Courtney Lyngen.
Over the last five years fitness has become a huge part of my adult life. I would go workout for an hour four to five times a week with aggressive CrossFit programs to then come home and get back to my regular nightly routine. However, after many dedicated gym sessions over three years into it, I started asking myself: where are the results? I had changed my habits and my lifestyle to consist of what I considered to be a healthy track. Nonetheless, I still lacked proper energy to make it through the day without yawning, and wore the same pant size I had always fit into. After seeking out additional resources, I bit the bullet and met with a nutritional coach. My family members were confused, as they perceived me as the fittest one among them. But when one falls short of self-imposed expectations, she often stops at nothing to achieve that goal.
Even after changing the way I ate—which I already knew would require much effort—there was still one nutritional aspect I failed at daily. I did not consume nearly enough water for my small 5’3” frame. I continually left myself improperly nourished of the most vital nutrient of all. With the human body ranging from 55% to 70% water, the brain being composed of about 85% water, and90% of our blood plasma containing water, the magical molecule H2O plays a huge role in our overall function.
Water is critical to most every function in living organisms. Among other processes, water maintains body temperature, metabolizes body fat, aids in digestion, cushions organs, lubricates regions like the throat, transports nutrients to the cells, and flushes toxins out of organs. Day after day, Dr. Berger treats a range of patients coming in due to hip pain, knee pain, or often both. In a world where patients are characterized by different shapes, sizes, and deterioration within the joint, one truth remains consistent in post-surgical care: hydration is crucial to a shorter, more complete recovery. Place an unnatural occurrence, such as joint surgery, on the body and the task of consuming enough water becomes even more imperative.
When a patient has surgery with Dr. Berger, prescribed medications and rest are required to aid in the recovery of implanting a new joint. Medications such as Oxycontin may be prescribed for post-operative care and require a patient to consume more water. The amount of water recommended varies per person, but is often more than suspected. On average, a human’s water intake should be between seven to nine cups a day. Another way to ensure proper hydration is for each person to drink her own body weight in ounces each day. While that may seem excessive, remember all the critical roles water plays. Whether trekking through a mountain, sitting at an office desk, or going through a surgical procedure, hydration is key to success.