How do you make yourself drink more water?

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

I currently have a 24oz Tervis Tumbler on my desk with ice cubes, water, and pieces of watermelon. It's delicious. Sometimes I use fresh mint, strawberries, lemon, cucumber, etc.

mwyvr

Flavour it with three espresso shots!

More seriously I only have one or two good coffees a day and they *do* count as water.

We all get water from the foods we eat too. Eight glasses shouldn't be seen as a strict rule. Color of urine is probably a better guide.

smelius22

I fill up a liter size bottle with water each morning and make myself drink it with breakfast and finish it before I can have my unsweet tea I buy every morning. Then the rest of the day I make sure to drink water with my meals because I drink A LOT when I eat, basically 4 drinks per bite of food.

snoringcat

I don't. I drink when I'm thirsty. This '8 glasses a day' thing is a myth. The body has a perfectly good homeostatic mechanism when it comes to maintaining fluid balance. it's called 'thirst'.

KrysGettinFit

I have a gallon jug at my desk that has lines for every three hours or so. I try to keep on schedule with it and it helps. Drinking a lot of water really helps me to feel better I've noticed, especially when I'm working out.

pepperpat64

We don't need that much water per day. It's a myth.

theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

csofled

I think it is that freakin Water Consumption icon that makes me want to "drink up" all that H2O. I do count any type of liquid as part of my daily goal be it coffee, seltzer, almond milk or plain ole water. I also understand that many of our foods that we consume contain substantial amounts of liquid. My main goal is to remain well hydrated as part of the weight loss journey that I am on.

KharismaticKayteh

Before I was at the point that I craved fluid regularly (and when I sometimes fall off track because life tends to get in the way for any of us), I always started my day with a tall glass of water before breakfast, and then another tall glass per meal. Sometimes I substitute tea for water, but I try not to do this for every serving of fluid I should be having, as tea is a diuretic. That said, if I do drink nothing but tea all day, I haven't noticed any repercussions, but I'd still rather play it safe. Also though, my tea doesn't really burn up my calories because I only use 2/3 cup of sugar per gallon (about 65 calories per tall glass/two cups).

KylaDenay

I have a bad habit of drinking like half a cup and that's it for me besides my coffee (which counts as water). Now I keep a 32 oz bottle next to me all the time. I only make myself drink it, because I will get headaches and sick if I don't. You really don't need to drink crazy amounts, as someone else pointed out. I like to drink till my pee is clear.

losergood2011

I read that you take a drink everytime you go to the bathroom (when you get back to your office etc) that has helped me so much!!

abetterluke

ashleynburk wrote: »

I, like I'm sure many of you, can not get myself to drink my 8 glasses of water a day. I've tried making it flavored and even buying new water bottles to keep it fun but nothing seems to stick. Any suggestions?

Have you tried this one? http://www.amazon.com/Zing-Anything-Citrus-Zinger-Juicer/dp/B00GH6ZRTU

I have always had the same issue but I actually really enjoy it with this water bottle. You don't have to just use citrus either. You can put berries, cucumbers, mint, etc. It's awesome.

abetterluke

jaqcan wrote: »

kr1stadee wrote: »

Use a straw. Seriously. I can down 3 cups (as much as my bottle holds) in an hour.

YES, a straw. If I'm at home, I have a cup by the sink and every time I go in I have a glass. I also have a glass before I dish up each meal, and if I grab a diet soda, I drink water first.

Complete opposite for me. I straw makes me drink less but a wide mouthed water bottle (like the 32 oz nalgene ones) and I can down 4 or 5 a day.

JoRocka

I keep a bottle at my desk- a sippy bottle or a straw are best but anything that's SUPER close and convenient so I can grab it when I'm essentially bored.

abetterluke

abetterluke wrote: »

ashleynburk wrote: »

I, like I'm sure many of you, can not get myself to drink my 8 glasses of water a day. I've tried making it flavored and even buying new water bottles to keep it fun but nothing seems to stick. Any suggestions?

Have you tried this one? http://www.amazon.com/Zing-Anything-Citrus-Zinger-Juicer/dp/B00GH6ZRTU

I have always had the same issue but I actually really enjoy it with this water bottle. You don't have to just use citrus either. You can put berries, cucumbers, mint, etc. It's awesome.

Also for the record on this -- you don't need to drink a ton of water everyday. That's been debunked. I keep this bottle at work and drink about 2 of them per day. Then I have a glass of water with dinner and that's usually it. Oh and 1 cup of coffee in the morning.

carolynmo1969

After committing to increasing my water intake over a year ago, I can safely say it is a habit. You'll get there too. You'll stop thinking "I need to have 8 glasses" to noticing how different you feel when you haven't. In fact, this thread reminded me that I need to refill my glass

slickmickey

straws! i dont know what it is. i can suck it down with a straw. out of a bottle or cup without it will take me all day...

agartin

I noticed the more I drink water, the more I crave it. Not only that, I made it a personal goal for myself and set an alarm throughout the day to remind myself to drink it. After two weeks I noticed more clear skin, less fatigue and I seemed to sweat more at the gym which I actually liked. I also noticed that if I fell off the wagon with my water drinking within just one day, my lips became chapped. I seemed to have that problem daily until I started drinking water, I hadn't noticed it. Then again, back to my main point, the more I made myself drink it, the more I actually craved it. I also cannot drink it ice cold. I prefer mine room temp.

JoRocka

slickmickey wrote: »

straws! i dont know what it is. i can suck it down with a straw. out of a bottle or cup without it will take me all day...

it's literally just easier. I drink WAY more with a straw than without- no question.

abetterluke

agartin wrote: »

I noticed the more I drink water, the more I crave it. Not only that, I made it a personal goal for myself and set an alarm throughout the day to remind myself to drink it. After two weeks I noticed more clear skin, less fatigue and I seemed to sweat more at the gym which I actually liked. I also noticed that if I fell off the wagon with my water drinking within just one day, my lips became chapped. I seemed to have that problem daily until I started drinking water, I hadn't noticed it. Then again, back to my main point, the more I made myself drink it, the more I actually craved it. I also cannot drink it ice cold. I prefer mine room temp.

Totally agree with this. I've been having a lot of issues with chapped lips and it's always on the days when I don't drink my water. I also have way more energy.

Gena_Beana

Flavor drops. I like all Crush brand flavor drops, great value brand 'sweet' tea (no sugar in it), miyo (sp) drops, the dasani pineapple coconut drops are good too.

jessicamcc712

I set alarms on my phone. We have these big plasic cups that hold about 2 cups of water. I drink one when I wake up, one the first half of the work day, one the 2nd half of the day and one when I get home from work. The alarm is just to help me remember if I get to busy. Some days I drink more. For me, the alarm has helped me keep on track.

hstull82

I've been carrying around with me every where a one gallon jug . It seems to help me remember to actually drink it!