About Bonnie
Welcome to a new feature of tennis.info where we bring you information on a broad range of tennis-related health and fitness topics.
Our resident 'Doc' is Dr Bonita Marks (who prefers to be known as Bonnie. She also responds to "Hey you!" but not in a manner that you would welcome...). She has a Ph D in exercise physiology which, according to her Mother (who does NOT have a Ph D in exercise physiology) "has something to do with how exercise affects the body".
Bonnie has been in the fitness 'business' for about 25 years and is currently an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked with every age group - ranging from 4 to 92.
Bonnie teaches university majors in exercise science how to become professionals in the field and also conducts research into health, sports, and fitness. You can learn more about her at:
She has just completed research involving sports nutrition as applied to college and professional tennis touring players. Her paper is being presented at the 3rd World Congress of Science and Racket Sports in Paris in May 2003 and also at the 2nd ITF International Congress on Tennis Science & Technology in London in July.
She has also just published her first book earlier this year (2006) - an essential tool for anyone who is interested in "The Business, Science, and Reality of Going Pro":
What does she do for fun? Plays tennis (of course); falls on her butt rollerblading; and in her spare time, impersonates zombies...! In other words, she is the perfect person to advise you on everything you need to know about life - and sports physiology (whatever that is....)
Hydration - Fact or Fiction
From time to time you hear or read statements like the ones below.
Are they fact, fiction, or based in truth but exaggerated or misinterpreted?
Take the quiz below and see how you fare. Then watch for upcoming articles to clarify these and many other popular misconceptions in future postings.
Have a question about something you heard or read? Submit it – we will try to answer you and maybe even use it in a future article..!
Questions
1. Sport drinks are all advertising hype with no real benefit over water.
2. There’s a substance in Gatoradeä that breaks down into an illegal steroid compound when metabolized and could result in a positive doping test.
3. You should drink fruit juices because they are healthier than sport drinks.
4. You can drink too much water.
5. Alcohol doesn’t mess up your game if you are used to drinking.
6. You should cut back on your salt consumption because too much causes high blood pressure.
Answers
1. Fiction. BUT, all sports drinks are not created equal, some are better than others. We'll tell you which and why in future articles. And sometimes, plain water will do just fine...!
2. Fiction. No ifs, ands, or buts - and I don’t work for or own stock in Gatorade.
3. Fact AND Fiction. It depends on when you drink it....
4. Fact. Excess water intake can lead to hyponatremia (water intoxication).
5. Fiction. C’mon- you all knew this was the answer ‘deep down’...
6. Fact OR Fiction. It depends on you and your family’s health history...
Drink drink drink drink – but make sure it’s the ‘right stuff’, right? Well, what is the ‘right stuff”? Milk? Juice? Water? Jolt? Bud Lite? Xena? Wild Turkey? Gatorade? Accelerade? Lemonade? Kool-Aid? Just what kind of fluid “aid” do you need, and when?
How much is enough? How much is too much?