Back in the ‘70s, Ellington Darden, Ph.D., who was a high-intensity-training advocate working for Nautilus creator Arthur Jones at the time, told a story that usually got some laughs…
He said one of the biggest bodybuilders in the gym was asked his secret to big muscles. His answer: “I drink lots of water all day every day.”
Hahaha, we thought. What a misguided nut—but damn if the old school “fool” wasn’t right…
A recent study tracked more than 100 young male athletes, analyzing daily water consumption, hydration status, and body composition…
Athletes who downed more than 2.5 liters (85 ounces) of water a day had SIGNIFICANTLY more lean mass. And interestingly, hydration did NOT matter…
In other words, even the athletes that were fully hydrated showed LESS muscle if they weren’t getting at least 2.5 liters of water (from Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, reported by @thegymcollege).
Why? This may be due to more water expanding intracellular fluid within muscle cells. That can drive anabolism and performance.
So your water intake isn’t only about achieving hydration. You want to go beyond to get bigger and stronger…
It appears that excess water intake—to a point—can drive anabolism.
NOTE: For more often-ignored muscle-building tips similar to the above, see Chapter 10: Details for Fast Mass in Old Man Young Muscle.