Senior Citizens pay attention!

[Jim Thomerson]

I have read that people over 40 are prone to dehydrate without realizing it. My first flight this afternoon, my legs were so weak and shaky I was really in distress.  Managed to complete the OTS pattern and not fall down, but had no fun.  I realized that my liquid intake had been thee cups of coffee (doesn't count) and one glass of water, and that I had not peed in a long time.  I sat down and drank a pint of water.  About 45 minutes later I put up a flight and my legs were fine.  I intend to have a couple of gallons of water with me at the VSC.

[Scott B. Riese]

Great Post. I bring water to the field and 9 out of 10 times I bring it back home without a sip taken. 

OH I only get shaky when Leo starts up one of his prop throwers...

[john e. holliday]

At VSC you better have plenty of water.  Hope the caterers don't see this unless they have lots of bottled water, you don't want to drink too much of the sodas.  

Took the grand kids to the Ice-O-Lated today and did not drink too much before leaving.  You know the old bladder is deciding to have a mind of its own.  Did drink a large coffee after the three of us got our flights in.  But, then when we hit the Stake-N-Shake up on north 141 I went thru two glasses of water besides two cups of coffee.  With the cool temps(mid 30's to low 40's) I didn't think about dehydration.

Need dto take Jim's advice and drink more water no matter the temps.  DOC Holliday

[Brett Buck]

I have read that people over 40 are prone to dehydrate without realizing it. My first flight this afternoon, my legs were so weak and shaky I was really in distress.  Managed to complete the OTS pattern and not fall down, but had no fun.  I realized that my liquid intake had been thee cups of coffee (doesn't count) and one glass of water, and that I had not peed in a long time.  I sat down and drank a pint of water.  About 45 minutes later I put up a flight and my legs were fine.  I intend to have a couple of gallons of water with me at the VSC.

   You don't have to be a senior citizen. I got severely dehydrated, to the point I lost the vision in the left side of both eyes, at the 93 NATs, and I was only 32 at the time. When I go to the midwest, I pretty well have to force myself to drink something about once an hour, whether I feel thirsty or not. I am partial to orange Gatorade, luke-warm, but anything except caffeinated soda will do the trick.

      Brett

[Steve Helmick]

I really don't like bottled water, but there are some really great fruit juices that'll work. I'm leery of folks who filter tap water (maybe filter it) and sell it for beer prices!  The low sugar Gatoraide and Powerade are good stuff. I prefer the orange, but the red and blue flavors are generally ok.

The only "Energy Drink" I've ever tried (once) is a "5 hr. Energy".  It has almost no calories, but does have a fair dose of caffeine. I'll bring some along to VSC, mostly for the long drive.  I washed it down with a Coke, and my pulse rate went way up. The Coke was definitely not a good chaser! Powerade would have been better. The Powerade "Options" lemonade is my favorite. Stay away from all those "Energy Drinks"! The caffeine will dehydrate you quickly.   Steve

[Brett Buck]

The only "Energy Drink" I've ever tried (once) is a "5 hr. Energy".  It has almost no calories, but does have a fair dose of caffeine. I'll bring some along to VSC, mostly for the long drive.  I washed it down with a Coke, and my pulse rate went way up. The Coke was definitely not a good chaser! Powerade would have been better. The Powerade "Options" lemonade is my favorite. Stay away from all those "Energy Drinks"! The caffeine will dehydrate you quickly.  

      Stay away from energy drinks when flying airplanes!  It will hype you up severely - caffeine to dilate your blood vessels, and B12 to give you a buzz. You have to be calm when flying stunt. I won't even touch caffeinated soda (Diet Coke being my poison of choice, when necessary)  before flying.

    I don't see how anyone can function on "energy drinks". They make me very jittery, and I couldn't even drive safely on them.

    Brett

[wmiii]

I really don't like bottled water, but there are some really great fruit juices that'll work. I'm leery of folks who filter tap water (maybe filter it) and sell it for beer prices!  The low sugar Gatoraide and Powerade are good stuff. I prefer the orange, but the red and blue flavors are generally ok.

[/quote]
 I was judging at VSC a few years ago and thought I was hydrating just fine, coffee, ice tea, gator aid etc, went to dinner had some more ice tea, back to the room, drank a beer, peed. I then remembered, I hadn't gone almost all day. I had a checkup, told the good doctor about it, he just looked at me and said I thought you were smarter than that. He then gently explained to me DRINK WATER ,LOTS OF WATER, the other stuff is not as good as water.

 Walter

[Leo Mehl]

Being I was a long distance bicycle rider that is the first thing you learn is to drink a lot of water. The first time i rode across Montana I was riding on a real hot day and hadn't had a drink in about an hour and when I did I had a hard time swallowing it because my throat was so dry. after that I made sure I drank every 5 minutes . another trick is to eat a lifesaver as it will keep your mouth wet. The indians used to suck on small stones but that never appealed to me. Staying hydrated on a hot or a cold day is very important so don't disregaard this post. Those 90 degree days really can get to you in a hurry when you ride bicycle because the wind from riding takes the sweat away and you think it is cooler tha it is. And remember when we get older our minds play tricks on us.

[Bob Disharoon]

   You don't have to be a senior citizen. I got severely dehydrated, to the point I lost the vision in the left side of both eyes, at the 93 NATs, and I was only 32 at the time. When I go to the midwest, I pretty well have to force myself to drink something about once an hour, whether I feel thirsty or not. I am partial to orange Gatorade, luke-warm, but anything except caffeinated soda will do the trick.

      Brett

Not everything will do the trick.Any M.D. will tell you water is the best way to go.Gatorade is a high priced water replacement.

[Roger Vizioli]

Great posts by all. Thanks!
When you get home from a day of flying and realize you did not have to "pee" all day, dont think great kidneys,
think -
DEHYDRATION!
If you normally dont bring water, 
Suggestion: Put a note on your flight box now that says, "Bring Water!"
Roger V.

[don Burke]

When I used to desert race motorcycles the advice was, "If you ain't peeing, you're dehydrated!  Make sure you have plenty of water available."

[Paul Smith]

Senior citizen over 40?

I've heard 60, 62, and 65.  AARP tries to use 55.  But 40?

I would expect Control Line to draw the line about 70, so as to have a few non-seniors.

[Leo Mehl]

Senior citizen over 40?

I've heard 60, 62, and 65.  AARP tries to use 55.  But 40?

I would expect Control Line to draw the line about 70, so as to have a few non-seniors.

I would like to up this to 80 thank you!

[Charlie Pate]

I,ve been told to avoid Gatogade if you are diabetic,by people that are (sugar) woks fine for me!.

[dave siegler]

Guys, I was a bicycle road racer and, and learned too much about the dangers of dehydration from first had experience.   

Cool water is the best.  Diluted sports drinks are OK. 

Stay away from caffeine, it is a diuretic and doesn't help the cause at all. Coffee is not recommended.

Work on upping your water intake 1-2 days before your event.  Get well hydrated before your event.  If you start out the day dehydrated, you can’t drink enough to keep up. 

Under extreme conditions you may need the electrolyte replacement in a sports drink, but that is for marathon runners, and bicycle racers not airplane guys out in the sun too long.  If you eat a normal healthy diet you probably don’t need a sports drink.

Keep a bottle near you can sip constantly throughout the day. 

Have a consumption schedule.

Eat a normal healthy diet.  Avoid heavy foods when out in the heat, they interfere with water absorption in the stomach. 


Dave

[phil c]

Really interesting show on the Military Channel a month ago about the Israeli army.  They had lots of trouble with combat fatigue(lots of desert) and finally figured out that the troops needed more water.  I think they figured about 1 quart an hour, watched by the platoon leader.  They had a platoon take a 200 mile hike, over 3-4 days, with no ill effects.  They went on to use the same technique in the '67 war.  I guess a quick check would be that if you haven't hit the bathroom in the last 3 hours you need a lot more water.

[john e. holliday]

Senior citizen over 40?

I've heard 60, 62, and 65.  AARP tries to use 55.  But 40?

I would expect Control Line to draw the line about 70, so as to have a few non-seniors.

Gee wizz Paul.  When I was 40 they kept wanting to give me the Senior discount.  Now I am 67 and have to prove it.  Of course after yesterday I felt like a 100.

[Jim Kraft]

At VSC they have a fountan on the field, and you can just keep filling your water jug from that. I drink water continually all day.

[Leo Mehl]

At VSC they have a fountan on the field, and you can just keep filling your water jug from that. I drink water continually all day.

Thats where I am puting my chair. Right by the fountain that way will be able to see everyone sometime during the day.

[Eric Viglione]

Good thread guys... but if you want some real motivation to keep hydrated, THINK KIDNEY STONE! I had an awful time with a very large stone a couple years ago... um..well, let's not go there. Suffice it to say, my doc said biggest contributing factor to most kinds of stones is DEHYDRATION!

I had sometimes been guilty of not drinking at all while flying down in the Florida heat. I can tell you that after passing a border-line passable kidney stone (almost had to operate), I drink plenty of water now buddy!!!!! (and a whole lot less coffee and soda)

As far as caffeine goes, he said the diuretic effect is so bad that out in the heat it takes an equal amount of plain water to undo the effects of a cup of strong coffee. That gets you back to the break-even point, and you still need to hydrate at that point, so best just to stick with water, maybe pack a banana and some saltines too. Allergy sufferers have to be careful as well, as I found the med's I take make dehydration worse too.

EricV

[dave siegler]

  I guess a quick check would be that if you haven't hit the bathroom in the last 3 hours you need a lot more water.

By then it is too late and you are playing catch up.  Dehydration isn't a on off thing, there are various levels of it and there is a big lag between the "output" and the "input".  The first sign of dehydration is poor judgemt.  You migh even notice it.


Drink early and often and continous.   It is real hard to drink too much so in the heat plan on 1 quart per hour.  I did a hike in the grand canyon and drank 2 gallons (2 and 1/2 cammelbacks) and in 3.5 hours and was still dehydrated.   

[dave siegler]

double post sorry

[Leo Mehl]

Even at sea, surrouned by water, you can get dehydrated. All the wind across the deck or across the bridge and the salt air will dry you out. At VSC, it is the dry air and the breezes (dare not say wind) that will dry you out. It is a high, dry desert out there. I love it, as it is the type country I was raised in, so I know dehydration first hand. Not funny. I drink four bottles of water a day at VSC and since I visit the green boxes several times, I hope I am doing something right.

If not, it will affect your thinking process and timing, reactions, etc, and can cause heart and kidney problems. Friends don't let friends dehydrate. Lets look out for each other, just don't be a pest about it.   Hints do help. Keep an Eye on the girls at the desks too.

I'll be a watchen ya Ty.

[Jim Thomerson]

Back in the good old days, in Texas you could drink and drive so long as you did not get drunk.  I was in Ft. Worth one summer in a heat wave.  The public service radio repeatedly admonished to drink a glass of water for each beer.

[George]

...Jack Daniels and seven, no ice.

EEEwwwww! You put soda in Jack Daniels! Folks in Lynchburg (pop.361) would surely lynch you!   

Jack...water beside it. 

George