So why does it matter?
It’s really a very simple concept — when you sweat you lose electrolytes. If you don’t replace those which are lost, your body cannot sustain the performance you desire from it over time. Now the more difficult part — figuring out how much! Depending on your sport, the conditions and how much you sweat, you can easily be under or overdoing what you really need. The sodium loss range between athletes can be monstrous — regardless of body type and diet.
EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.
Way too little
= fatigue, lethargy, malaise, cramping (in some cases), low blood volume/pressure and generally declining performance
Way too much
= gastric upset/sickness, fluid retention, bloating.