Any trick to drink 8 cups of water per day?

Alicja_W

For me I need to have my water with me at all times, even when I'm not thirsty. Just seeing it helps remind me to drink it. Also, for some reason, it's easier for me to get my water in when I'm drinking it with a straw.

Edited to add this... I've read that when our bodies are thirsty, we've actually waited too late to drink the water.

Hope this helps.

same here its easier for me to drink with a straw

Daisygurl7

Try drinking from a straw. I bought a plastic cup with a lid and straw. I keep one at work and at home. You drink it faster and it really helps.

Definitely! I had a hard time getting in 8 glasses of water then I bought a big 32 oz mug with a straw. I have no problem drinking two of those 32 oz mugs and for some reason I drink much quicker through a straw.

Totally agree with these two! A Straw definately helps! I to have a 32 oz glass with a straw and I drink it without even thinking about it!

HMonsterX

Once again...

Here we go again!

You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/


As for coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
adj.
Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
n.
A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

HMonsterX

Once again...

Here we go again!

You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/


As for coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
adj.
Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
n.
A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

Lovely_Luna

I usually find a bottle or glass that holds at least a couple cups of water and keep it with me and when it's empty I just refill it. I drink from just that all day and I usually get at least 8 cups of water a day.

chevy88grl

I'm going to commit blasphemy here and tell you not to worry about. The need to drink 8 cups of water a day is a medical myth (http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp this is just one source). Most of us get all the water we need through the food we eat, especially if we are eating clean with high water content food like fruits and vegetables, not to mention other beverages we might drink during the day. Don't get me wrong, you need to stay well hydrated, especially if you are losing water through exercise, etc.. I also know that some people use it as a way to help fill the their stomach before or during meals. Unfortunately, there is evidence that lots of water in your stomach with meals hinders digestion, slowing it down and making your alimentary tract less efficient. Finally, my proof is in my own results. I don't track my water but I know that i don't drink 8 glasses a day and it has not slowed my progress down.

To each their own. Personally, I feel better, my skin looks better, I sleep better, etc when I'm drinking around 80oz of water a day. Yes, I can get by with less - but, I definitely feel sluggish and not so hot when I don't drink enough water. If you don't want to consume a lot of water in a day - that is your personal choice, but I think recommending it to others when you don't know their personal situations is a great disservice to people.

squishycow7

every time I go to the bathroom I chug a glass of water.

it's a vicious cyle (:


plus just carrying a water bottle around helps too.. if I see it, I'll reach for it

garzatwin

yes. buy a really cute nalgene (water bottle) and keep it with you. Put one of those cheap "mountain-climbing" clips on it. Then u can clip it to ur purse or whatever, making it less likely to lose. If you buy a 32 oz and fill it up 2 times... that equals the 8 cups u need. It wont feel like ur drinking that much and it's much much cheaper than buying small water bottles all day every day. And you'll look cool and sporty doing so:)

Smelerz

I add an ounce of POM juice to a 32 oz "tupperware" bottle of water, its all natural an satisfies my sweet cravings

sunshine421969

Hi, the best thing that got my family and I to drinking water is using the Brita Filter water pitcher.The water stays nice and cold.We also got two Brita bottles with them like they use on TBL.We feel them up and when we finish the bottle we go straight and fill it up again.WE do this through out the day.As the others said, keep it with you at all times.
Before the Brita, we drank Crystal Light it is low in calories,but if you need a little flavor that is a good source..

naja20202

I find that having it with me all day long in a big bottle 32oz, and using a straw helps me to get through all of it in the day.

tigersword

I'm amused by people talking about how fast they drink their water. If you're chugging 32 ounces of water in 20 minutes, you're just wasting water. Your body can't process that much at once, and just tosses it out. That's why you're going to the bathroom every half hour.

Also, thirst is the best way to gauge how much to drink. The myth that you are already dehydrated if you feel thirsty is ridiculous. Do people believe that feeling hungry means you're suffering from starvation, also?:huh:

fififox

I NEVER drink water on its own. I started a challenge yesterday and measured out the water requirement and nearly keeled over when I saw it. The sheer volume was enough to put me off! I need to see it in small manageable quantities and not focus on the big picture! This morningI filled a jug that I left beside the kettle. I put a mark on it that marks half the days intake and filled it to there. I left a kids beaker on top of it and am taking a cup when I see it or when I go to make tea I might have a glass of water instead or while I wait for the kettle to boil. When I go back to work after the holidays I will have to take small bottles with me so I can work my way through it....kinda like mini goals, lol! No...I am not naturally a water drinker! I am interested to hear of the chilled suggestion and the straws. I must try them to see if they make a difference.

Circa1964

I have reusable bottles at home and work. I split up my day and have deadlines. One bottle by noon, 4pm, 8pm, and midnight. One of those I add Crystal Light. It helps to get it down and break up the monotony.

samantha0176

when i am at home i always have a big glass full of water...i squeeze a drop of lemon into it...and of course drink it with a straw...i can not drink my water without a straw! or lemon..YUCK...unless i am at the gym...the glass is almost 4 cups...so make sure i fill 4-5 glasses everyday...they stay on the kitchen counter and i take sips here and there....

JoJo_fat2fab

I cannot drink cold water to save my life, I fill my 64oz jug every morning and just sip here and there, by the time I do my workout I'm done with the 64oz and have to refill it and end up drinking about a gallon a day. At first I used to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes, but now I guess my body is used to and I don't go as much (I can actually sleep thru the night).

chevy88grl

I'm amused by people talking about how fast they drink their water. If you're chugging 32 ounces of water in 20 minutes, you're just wasting water. Your body can't process that much at once, and just tosses it out. That's why you're going to the bathroom every half hour.

Also, thirst is the best way to gauge how much to drink. The myth that you are already dehydrated if you feel thirsty is ridiculous. Do people believe that feeling hungry means you're suffering from starvation, also?:huh:

If I downed 32oz of water in 20 mins - I would probably explode. I can't drink that amount of water in a short time. It literally takes me ALL day to get in the amount of water I know that I need.

That being said, they say thirst is one thing - but if your mouth is very dry, you have a headache, etc that can be classified as dehydration. So, in a sense - in some cases, extreme thirst IS a sign you're already dehydrated. I can tell when I haven't had enough water - I get a horrible headache, my eyes start to hurt and my lips/mouth get VERY dry. I'll drink 8-10oz of water and within a short time I feel better. Now, I also know when it gets to that point - I better keep drinking the water or I'll feel horrible again.

Each person responds differently.

TinaS88

I take a water bottle, mine holds 3 cups of water, and I throw a drink packet in it. Only 10 calories for each full packet, gives my water some flavor and before I know it, I've drunken 3 water bottle fulls

missfluffyuk

what I want to know is how do you not end up peeing 50 times a day?! I barely drink and go to the bathroom about twice an hour - which makes work and stuff really hard... adding 8 cups of water each day would be terrible!

Because you are drinking too little, your kidneys are straining -- this is why you need to pee so much. You may also have an underlying problem.

when you first start drinking more, you'll need to pee often but within a few days it will settle down.

skywa

Get 2 big bottles of water.. Try you best to finish both of them every day. Then refill at night.

I like to add lemon juice to my water every once in a while to keep myself from getting bored.