Water...how do you drink enough??

lolowjc05

I find that at the beginning of my weight loss journey, I always did great with water. Then...as time passes, it becomes a struggle to drink enough daily. I tend to drink 8 - 10 glasses daily when I am getting enough in. Any tips on how to stay motivated with water intake?

AJB1014

I'm going to try something this weekend - because I get plenty while at work but struggle on the weekends.

A gallon water jug - pour exclusively from that so you can SEE your progress.

steveko89

Habit > motivation

I found that I'll drink water if it's readily available, even if I'm not particularly thirsty, and will go without if not. I do much better during the week in the office than I do when home as I've gotten into the habit of refilling the Tervis I keep on my desk as soon as I empty it. Subsequently, I easily hit 10-12 cups by quitting time so any extra I have in the evening is bonus.

kd_mazur

I keep my 24oz water bottle filled and sitting next to me. when it is empty, I fill it again. I have found that just having the water available makes me drink more often.

missysippy930

Water comes from a lot of different foods and drinks, and you are getting water from them.
If your pee is clear light yellow, and you are drinking when thirsty, you should be well hydrated.

Alot depends on how much you exercise, how hot and humid it is where you live, and your overall health.

Thehardmakesitworthit

Same as some others, I keep a gallon jug by my desk in the office and its gone by the end of the day. The weekends are harder....no tips except that as you likely know, it does make such a difference all around.

flippy1234

I have one of those cups with the straw in the lid. I add ice, water and top it off with a little crystal light. Gives me a bit of flavor and the ice cold water is great. I drink tons of water that way.

sweetnsassy1491

I keep my 36 oz. Yeti cup filled and sitting next to me on my desk. Ice cold water is easier for me to drink. Also, I have the water minder app.

cwolfman13

Just make sure you're hydrated...their is no magical number.

I pretty much always have my water bottle with me anywhere I go. I live in the desert at over a mile high, so staying hydrated is pretty stinkin' important.

pinuplove

I drink water with meals and to satisfy thirst between. That's usually enough to keep me well-hydrated. Anything more than what is needed to keep you hydrated (pee not darker than straw-colored, generally speaking) isn't necessary. Other drinks hydrate as well. I just drink water because I like it and I don't like to 'spend' my calories on drinks.

jgnatca

I start and end my day with a glass of water. That’s 16 oz out of the way already. There’s a water bottle at my desk at work and a new habit is tea at the office every morning.

Snowflake1968

I do better during the week at work than I do on the weekends but I have been working on making it a habit. I find as long as I have my first bottle by 10 I can make it to goal by the end of the day. My daughter has an app that she uses, I don't know the name, but it tracks your water to grow virtual plants. If you don't drink enough your plants die. She has my 7 year old grandson using it too, to help him avoid juices so much.

beastmode_kitty

I recently switched from having a cup of coffee at work, to a 24oz bottle of water within the first couple hours. Usually after that I can hit my goal of around 100oz of water a day, so long as I keep my bottle filled.

andyzee69

I use an app to reminder me to drink enough. Im the sort of person who gets involved in his work and forgets to drink and then ends up dehydrated so I needed something to remind me

anl90

As others have said, I try to keep water readily available so it can be a reminder to drink more. I personally cannot drink water if it is not ice cold, so I always make sure it is full of ice as well.

M0n1KCR

I dink far more during the week than at the weekends. I'm a teacher, so I'm constantly speaking, so my throat gets dry and I have to drink. I always keep my bottle on the desk, it gets refilled at need.

BoterhamMetPindakaas

Just drink when you're thirsty...?
No seriously, I checked but couldn't find any decent research into this. Why should you drink if you are not thirsty?

whitpauly

I have the opposite problem and drink too much water,I'm just constantly thirsty,no diabetes or anything just drink a lot of water

lolly2414

Like others have said I just keep a bottle of water near me pretty much all the time. I rarely drink anything that isn't water though, so that probably makes it easier too.

AnvilHead

I count everything I drink (because whether I count it or not, my body does - it all counts for hydration). Coffee, diet soda, iced tea, milk, water, flavored waters, etc.

I track it on MFP just because the tracking thing is there as part of my diary - but I go by urine color, as mentioned above, as an indicator of adequate hydration.

maureenkhilde

Keep ice water with me all of the time now. And track in MFP. And the mind game I play with myself is if every two weeks I have hit a minimum of 96 OZ daily. Then I can cash in and go to SB for a fatfree sugar free coffee iced with almond milk. Hey I use to go 2-4 times per week. Now is twice a month tops. Saving money and calories.

amusedmonkey

I personally don't watch my water intake because I have well-developed thirst signals, so it's not an issue for me. There are days where I barely drink any. These days mostly happen in the winter when I don't need as much water and when I've had enough of it through food (soups, vegetables, fruits, milk...etc).

karlpm

My old PT once told me you need 2 litres a day.
Plus a litre if you're training.
Plus a litre if you're having coffee/tea/alcohol.

Adds up pretty quickly but I find I notice the effects if I don't hit at last 3 litres a day.

I just keep a full water bottle on my desk at work and one on the kitchen counter at home, that way I can always just take a swig!

SchweddyGirl

I have a water bottle with me everywhere I go....literally everywhere. I have a 21oz bottle, and know I only have to drink it 3 times to get in the water my body needs. Sometimes I add water flavoring to change it up, but for the most part I just drink plain water.

TheMrWobbly

As most have said having water on hand is the key, and make it more interesting if you want to.

My wife is on the go a lot so she has a water bottle with her that attaches to her bag. Each time she goes out she adds a couple of ice cubes that have either lime of lemon in them to add a bit of flavour and keep the water cooler.

I work at a desk so I drink 500ml when I get to work and then have 500 ml in a glass on my desk, usually it is gone by lunch and I didn't even notice I was drinking it. Repeat the process for the afternoon.

Johnd2000

I never ever saw anyone carrying a water bottle around until I was in my 40’s. Hydration is important, but the modem obsession with carrying water with you at all times is an invention of the bottled water industry.

mkculs

I hate plain water, so I found something I like and right now, although I'm buying water in plastic bottles (yes, shame on me), it is working and has worked for about 2 years now. I was always good about drinking water in warm weather--but I live in the upper midwest and it is not actually warm for about 8-9 months/year. So I had to find a way to be consistent.

I will tackle my bad water habit at some point down the road. I have access to filtered water at work and will figure out the best way to filter water at home--just not right now. I can only handle one change at a time and this is a relatively low priority for me, b/c I do recycle and at least I do that.

kbmnurse1

I drink it all day long with lemon in it.

lolowjc05

Thanks for the tips everyone!! I am going to take a Tervis to work when I go back in August and just keep it there and refill. Now, I just need someone to watch my kiddos when I need to pee every couple hours. Ha, ha...teacher problems.

Calliope610

I get my hydration in the form of coffee (about 42oz/day), flavored sparkling waters (about 64oz/day) and ice tea (about 64oz/day). That's enough "water" to keep my pee light yellow.

303lissy

I had downloaded Plant Nanny to get me drinking more water. Gives you reminders to drink/log your water, and you watch your plants grow. Cute and it gets you to drink!