Why the heck can't I drink more water?!

randyv99

So I have been relatively proud of myself this time around. In the past, I've created overly complicated diet and fitness plans that would give me great results for a couple weeks and then totally fall apart. Now I live by two rules:

1. Don't be or do worse than last time
2. Increase activity

I'm still just recording my habits whilst trying to change them but the results are starting to show. Since recommitting myself on Nov. 1 to my simple plan which involves:

Daily Minimum - Crunches and pushups that I can bang out really quickly at a minimum every day
Weekly goals - These are just tracked but they involve running, biking, walking, 1 day in the gym and yoga.
Diet - staying within calorie (and more importantly nutritional) limitis

I've lost 1.6kg, am no longer immediately winded when jogging, have been able to jog 5 miles/week, have biked 10-15 miles per week and have seriously increased my strength and endurance.

However, I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DRINK ENOUGH WATER. There are a billion different suggestions out there for how much water to drink and I am consistently not even meeting the bare minimum of 8 glasses.

I'm sure my diet and fitness plan would benefit exponentially from a commitment to drinking water (because I feel great on the days when I properly hydrate) but I just keep forgetting to drink water. Even combining all of the other crap fluids I drink in a day (diet soda and juices) I barely meet my recommended fluid intake.

How do you guys stay hydrated throughout the day? Even when I carry my water bottle with me I forget about it until the end of the day.

brunettegoddess

What I do is in the morning I drink a big glass...not stopping even to breathe!! Then before i eat a snack or eat any meal I slam another one. 6 glasses does a body good and actually helps me not eat as much!! Its kinda like if you want something good ya gotta do this first Good Luck!!

dokcha

Have you tried eliminating sodas completely, and possibly juices as well? I really don't like drinking water, and I have a really hard time drinking it if it's in a glass. However, I eliminated sodas this past month completely (except for the rare times I go out to eat at a sit down restaurant), and have replaced it with bottled water. I've found when I get a cold bottled water, I can actually drink it pretty easily (and it doesn't last long ;-) ), and that's 2 cups of water right there. Just make sure if you buy bottled water that it's just plain natural spring water - you'd be surprised how many brands actually add SALT to their water, or other things that can even add calories. I still haven't worked my way up to 8 cups regularly, but I'm getting better, and usually can get at least 4-6 cups in easy.

randyv99

I'm hoping once I resume my classes next semester and I have a more standard routine that I'll remember to drink more water. At my job (where I am now) they have a water cooler and I can usually knock back a few glasses over my shift. But since my last trip to BJs when I purchased a bunch of Coke Zeros (a terrible idea, I know) I have been having a can of coke zero and more or less nothing else all night. I'll let this 32-pack run out then kick the juices and soda altogether. I really don't mind drinking water that much I just hate the thought of purchasing it (I figure I might as well be paying for something more than just the packaging) and just keep forgetting to drink it when I have it on me.

Going to try to that big glass in the morning and glass before meals thing as well.

KillerByteUK

Throughout the week while I'm at work, I tend to buy bottled water which makes it easier to track how much I've had.

At the petrol station next to where I work they sell 1.5 litre Evian bottles. I will buy one in the morning before work and another one in the afternoon - 3 litres equates to 12 cups of water. I'll also have a glass after exercising and at least one glass in the evening too.

I find it more difficult at the weekends, but have found that if I buy bottled water when I go out that it makes it easier to track and maintain the correct amount.

ginnyroxx

I put crystal lite in my water. it's the only way i can get it all in.

MyWishfulShrinking

I drink 16oz with every meal I have (5-6). I take sips between every bite and before I know it my water is gone and I didn't have to force myself to drink it.