Water Intake Help Please

Ruz456

So here's the deal, I really need help with my water intake, I simply don't drink enough water at all. Its not that I don't like water I just don't seem to remember to keep drinking it throughout the day no matter how hard I try.

So what do you all do to make sure your getting enough water through the day? If any of you have any tips for me to consistently drink water and not just during workouts that would be greatly appreciated!

elcieloesazul

Straws. I know that sounds weird, but if I'm drinking water with a straw, I drink on average more! Also, I recycle water bottles for cash, so the more of those I drink, the more money I get when I cash them in. (But that's just me). Bringing a reusable water bottle around with you at work/in the car, will also help.

ninerbuff

So here's the deal, I really need help with my water intake, I simply don't drink enough water at all. Its not that I don't like water I just don't seem to remember to keep drinking it throughout the day no matter how hard I try.

So what do you all do to make sure your getting enough water through the day? If any of you have any tips for me to consistently drink water and not just during workouts that would be greatly appreciated!

Put a glass on the counter designated for you. Every time you go in the kitchen, drink a glass. You'd be shocked at how many times you go into the kitchen.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

yunakins

I have the same problem, so I started filling a jug of water/juice/flavoured water twice a day and leaving it in the fridge/on the counter or by my computer.

psmd

I keep water bottles everywhere! In the trunk of my car, in the cup holder, in my office at work, and at home I keep a water filter in the fridge try to keep it full. And I have one reusable bottle (Camelbac that I love!) that I carry around sometimes too.

Also this is more random, but I love sparkling water and will buy cans of selzer water, or club soda. I find it really refreshing and I will drink more of it sometimes than regular water (I know some people hate it though).

I like the idea of always drinking a cup whenever you go into the kitchen, good idea, may try that!

Kathi_S

I drink at least two 8 oz glasses of water before breakfast. I don't just sip water occasionally, I gulp as much as I can, as often as I can. It not only helps me surpass water intake goals, but it keeps me feeling full. I have water with me all day long. I also know where the bathroom is, everywhere I go, because believe me, I need to use them a lot!

Soda water helps a lot too. I bought one of those Soda Stream things, so I can carbonate my own water whenever I want. That way there is no added sodium.

Dave198lbs

allow the overall reason you are doing it become a priority. To cleanse, purify and enrich the temple that is you.

or, just count backwards dude. like 6,,then 7.....

vsmurrow

Straws. I know that sounds weird, but if I'm drinking water with a straw, I drink on average more!

Along the same lines, I invested in a Camelback. Why? Because it's SUPER FUN TO DRINK OUT OF. I carry it with me everywhere and chew on the straw. A bit of an oral fixation... I feel like I'm always filling that thing up, because I inevitably drink when it's near my mouth.

Spend the money. Get a kick *kitten* bottle. It makes a difference.

BodyUnderConstruction

Straws. I know that sounds weird, but if I'm drinking water with a straw, I drink on average more! Also, I recycle water bottles for cash, so the more of those I drink, the more money I get when I cash them in. (But that's just me). Bringing a reusable water bottle around with you at work/in the car, will also help.

Straws!!! It's so true!

BodyUnderConstruction

Crystal light packets help!!

annabellj

always keep a bottle in your hand! lol no really i make sure that i dont leave the house without a bottle or sometimes two in my purse. i fill from agallon in the pantry fridge that is only for me so i know how much a drink in a day just by looking at it. straws are awesome also, i quit drinking my 6-12 coke zeros last wk and replaced it with water, i dont drink really anything else no coffee but maybe some crystal light in it once in a while and i have lost more weight this wk from that and stress than i did in the first 6 wks i was on here. go figure

annabellj

always keep a bottle in your hand! lol no really i make sure that i dont leave the house without a bottle or sometimes two in my purse. i fill from agallon in the pantry fridge that is only for me so i know how much a drink in a day just by looking at it. straws are awesome also, i quit drinking my 6-12 coke zeros last wk and replaced it with water, i dont drink really anything else no coffee but maybe some crystal light in it once in a while and i have lost more weight this wk from that and stress than i did in the first 6 wks i was on here. go figure

that was almost 12 pack of soda a day on average or 3 44 oz qt cups. i fill a qt cup with water now and fill that almost 5x a day. i usually drink 2 of those while at the gym, i dont bring the gal with me to the gym as the qt cup fits in the cup holder nicely

kutnEdge

I drink half my body weight in water daily and trust me I understand your challenge. I have a reusable water bottle that I take with me EVERYWHERE.... hair/doctor appt., car, work, even by the bed. Every chance I get I take a sip/ gulp; and, of course that keeps me in the bathroom. Also, keep other reusable water containers filled in the frig. ready to go, so I have no excuse. I feel naked if I leave the house without my water bottle, lol.

Dave198lbs

Straws. I know that sounds weird, but if I'm drinking water with a straw, I drink on average more!

Along the same lines, I invested in a Camelback. Why? Because it's SUPER FUN TO DRINK OUT OF. I carry it with me everywhere and chew on the straw. A bit of an oral fixation... I feel like I'm always filling that thing up, because I inevitably drink when it's near my mouth.

Spend the money. Get a kick *kitten* bottle. It makes a difference.

despite my minimalism, I own two camelbacks.

MFPfriend

-Keep a bottle near you at all times (keep one sitting on the kitchen counter, by your desk, in your car, etc). Every time you see the water bottle, take a couple big drinks. Every time you think about food, take a couple big gulps.

-Or do a chug-a-lug. One before breakfast, one after breakfast. One before lunch, one after lunch. One before dinner, one after dinner. One with each snack. If you average 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, then you've got your 8 cups.

-Drink from straws, or get a cool water bottle. I used to be really bad about drinking water, until I got my own resuable water bottle. I don't know why, but I feel like a badass drinking from my Nalgene water bottle.

-Do a rewards system (seems childish, but it works for my cousin). Every day you reach your 8 cups, give yourself a star sticker or something. After you reach 15 stars, buy yourself a new book, or a new water bottle, or something cool that you really want!

calamitydown

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! :P

for a while i put at least 6 rubber bands around my wrist, each of them representing a small/medium glass of water. every time i looked down at my hands, i was reminded "oh crap, i have four bands left and it's already 5 PM, I should go drink a glass now!" and voila!

it might only work for those who can fit rubber bands on their wrist comfortably though...don't want anyone cutting off circulation!

CyberEd312

I bought 3 of the Poweraide sports drinks in the 32 oz. bottle and marked the tops 1, 2, and 3.... then each day I fill them up and add a packet of Crystal Light Pure Fitness single packets and put them in the fridge. (comes in a bunch of flavors) and I make sure to drink them all before 6 in the evening. 8oz. water X 8cups a day is the recommended amount, well the 3 bottles gives me 96oz which a whole 32oz. over what is recommended. Works for me....

mamagooskie

I have a schedule. I know it sounds dumb but it works.

I drink 1 glass before each meal (I won't eat until I've had the water)

1 24 oz bottle between breakfast and lunch

1 24oz bottle when I work out

1 24 oz bottle between lunch and dinner

and it goes on like that. I can usually get in 16-20 glasses each day this way.

samichip

I definitely don't drink enough water either. Thanks for all the tips!
2 questions:
1) I know water is essential to health and wellbeing but how much does it affect weight loss? If anyone has any statistics or anything that might spur me on psychologically to drink more i'd really appreciate it.
2) can I make up my water allowance by drinking squash? Our tap water doesn't taste very nice (nothing wrong with it, it's just the area) so I find I only end up drinking it when I'm really thirsty (I fill up a bottle and take it to the gym with me). I know squash contains calories, but not many, so if I found room for these calories in my diary could I just drink heavily diluted squash all day? Or does that not work as well as regular water? I can't afford to drink bottled water every day.

Thanks for your help.

zalla

use a soft drinks bottle so you can keep it with you all the time,its also easier to monitor how much you have drank as most branded soft drinks come in 500ml bottles

Debbe2

Herbal decaf teas from Trader Joe's or your favorite store. 1. Brew 12 cups. 2. Refridgerate. 3. Drink. This helps me on days when water isn't going down as fast as I'd like.

VeggieKelli

Lots of great advice, now I am reminded of my desire for a camelback (too bad the pocketbook will not allow...)

Anyways, I struggled with this for a week or so, but I used to be crazy about water so it was fairly easy for me to fall back into. Like others, I carry water everywhere with me. I also love club soda (people around me think I'm crazy, but it's so good to me!), and try to drink a lot of decaf tea, sometimes a whole pot in a sitting!

But ultimately, there are times where you just have to learn to chug in order to get your daily quota in. Like, if I forget to drink water and I know I have to work out, I will have about 4 glasses of water beforehand in a ten minute time frame. That's what works for me, might not be ideal but you do what you can.

cthoma70

I buy the 20oz bottles of water in bulk and I drink one with each meal and break, by 4pm I have had 10 cups of water. Just sit down and drink the whole thing, 2.5 cups per bottle.

Kamalka

Hi,

I used to have the same problem and get back to bad habits from time to time.

1°) If you exercise regularly, you will notice your performance goes according to water intake..so if your muscles hurt or you are tired, drink a lot water...your body ask for it

2°) A study showed that if you drink 1l before breakfast, you have 90% (!!!!) less chances to suffer from a cancer, stress, heart deseases, etc.. (drinking a lot of water when stomac is empty seems to be the best cure against many century deseases). You will notice that if you drink a lot of water in the morning, you will be more thirsty in the afternoon.

3°) When fasting, you jump on water every time you are hungry...and it works. That is also maybe the reason why many suggest to drink water before the meal, simply because it helps to reduce the amount of food.

4°) I use all of the above for a couple days/weeks and always come back to forget about water. The best one for me is to check the color of my urine: if it is not 100% transparent, I jump on water just afterward (I tend to drink water by 0,5l). That is it for me.



Oh, I forgot 1: there are applications for water remider on smartphones...they are free and work great depending on your lifestyle (working environment, availability of water and toilets, etc.)

gods_gal

I always have a bottle of water near me. My oldest son bought me a Camelback and I agree that drinking with a straw is way more effective. I've gotten in a lot of water using that. For some reason it helps me to drink out of a pretty bottle, too. I fill my bottle with unfiltered water first thing in the morning and just keep refilling it throughout the day. Definitely helps!

Ruz456

Wow these are all great tips ill have to give some of these a try I appreciate the responses, I was actually thinking of buying a camelback for when I go snowboarding, maybe that will be a treat to myself for drinking enough water for a week or so lol

Olive32214

So here's the deal, I really need help with my water intake, I simply don't drink enough water at all. Its not that I don't like water I just don't seem to remember to keep drinking it throughout the day no matter how hard I try.

So what do you all do to make sure your getting enough water through the day? If any of you have any tips for me to consistently drink water and not just during workouts that would be greatly appreciated


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Olive32214

So here's the deal, I really need help with my water intake, I simply don't drink enough water at all. Its not that I don't like water I just don't seem to remember to keep drinking it throughout the day no matter how hard I try.

So what do you all do to make sure your getting enough water through the day? If any of you have any tips for me to consistently drink water and not just during workouts that would be greatly appreciated


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AmyM713

I have a 65 oz bottle I fill when I get up in the morning and put it in a spot I will see it through out the day usually by my computer and just make sure I drink it through out the day. I had the same problem I had a doctor even tell me I was drinking to little today is my 4th day of drinking all 65 oz.

joyleick1

I went to Walmart and bought a 1 gallon jug (from the kitchen section) and I fill it all the way up to the top in the morning and drink the whole thing by the end of the day. The longer I've done it, the more that I drink. I could easily drink two of them in a day now. The mind game is: you only have to fill it up once! Rather than having to drink, refill, drink, refill, drink, refill, etc. . . The bigger the container, the easier it is to just drink one time!!

ChelleReneeJoey

I carry my jug o water everywhere I never have drank sodas so never crave it and I keep my camel pak full when I hike or run-you can set reminders on your mobile to remind you to drink water every hour if that would help!