How to drink more water

southernpawsc

It may be easier to look at it as mini-goals such as...

Find a 16-20 oz cup/glass/container and know that you need to drink at least one at breakfast, one at lunch, one at dinner, and one at bedtime (or pick another time if waking to use the bathroom becomes a problem); get in at least 4 if it's closer to 16 oz and if it's closer to 20 oz, then you're almost at the 8 cups/day goal with drinking 3.

I have a large half-gallon translucent blue jug that has ridges on it and the handle, so I know I fill it up in the morning and make the ridges like mini-goals... finish by bedtime.

It does help to change it up by drinking carbonated/seltzer water (if you like it and not the ones with artificial sweetener) or if you add whole fruit slices to the water. My 64 oz jug is adequately flavored with one small slice of lemon and lime. You can switch it up with cucumbers, mint, lemons, limes, strawberries, oranges, ANYTHING.

Mini-goals is the way to go

rubia103

I snack on raw almonds. It makes you real thirsty.

willdob3

i carry my water bottle around like a teddy bear :-) you can't not drink when its right there.....

Before I had a car I relied on the bus for transportation. I carried my water with me & I had a goal to drink my liter down by the time I got to my destination. Same on the way home. Sometimes 1-2 while I was wherever I went.

I have a car now & drink a bit less but I'm fine with the amount I drink. I do still take my water everywhere I go.

Ascolti_la_musica

Have a tall glass nearby when you work out. You will chug the **** out of it when you are done.
Have a glass with each meal.

And have a glass of chocolate milk every day. Satisfies so many cravings, has lots of good stuff in it, and I count it as water. My body has approved of this habit for 4 months so far. :-)

DavPul

1. Find tall glass
2. Fill glass with water
3. Drink water from glass until empty.
4. Repeat.

JanieJack

I also like flavored water, slice up cucumber, ginger, mint, rosemary, basil, lemon, lime, any fruit and any combo you like. Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours and drink it! You can refill the pitcher a couple times until it starts to loose flavor or has been 3 days. Herbs are great for flavor and have added benefits.

You've gotta find out what works for you, and the above are GREAT suggestions! I'm cold all the time so I tend to drink room temperature water, but I also add some of the above or especially lemon juice. I find that drinking with a straw helps me drink more water than drinking straight from a cup or bottle... not sure why that is, but the point is try different things and find out what works for your body.

Par8hed4life

Two suggestions:
1) Mio. Makes water taste amazing.
2) Drink 8 oz every hour on the hour. Makes it that much easier.

NormInv

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/963622-doing-water-shots

LibbyCaramia

I try to drink a litre of water with every meal, and then whatever else I happen to drink during the day is a bonus. Usually about 4 litres in total. But I spend most of the day moving as I'm a waitress, so I do get thirsty and find it easy to drink lots of water.
I used to find myself using that as an excuse, oh, I'm too busy, can't possibly stop - but now I take a few seconds to stop and down a 200ml glass of water. Feeling so much better.

Crystaleyed

I am not drinking enough water at the moment but it's something I'm working on. I always complained in the past that water has no taste, especially not in this part of the UK where tap water is very pure, so I tried drinking flavored water and I also found that ice cold water has a bit of a taste to it and is really refreshing and appetizing. It's not something you should consider permanently but it's a good way to ease yourself into drinking enough water, just take it slowly so that it becomes a habbit

olDave

Almost everyday someone in these forums posts that they struggle with drinking so much water. No matter what others say, they seem to ignore anyone who doesn't agree with the idea that we need so much plain water....and yet they wonder why it's so hard to drink it all.

It's good to be skeptical about other people's opinions on a public forum. So, here is an article on the subject with opinions from people in the medical field who SHOULD know. It's not simply MY opinion.

If nothing else, this demonstrates that this subject is debatable and not a hard scientific or medical fact. The question will then be..."Who do you believe?"

Peace.

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Eight glasses of water a day an urban myth'?

Water and a well-balanced diet 'do far more than water alone,' Australian researcher says

CBC News

Posted: Jun 10, 2012 12:51 AM ET

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2012 12:48 AM ET

The common advice to drink eight glasses of water a day doesn't hold water, say nutrition and kidney specialists who want to dispel the myth.

"What drove us to drink two litres of water a day?" asks an editorial in this week's issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

The recommendation was driven by vested interests rather than health, suggests author Speros Tsindos of the department of dietetics and human nutrition at La Trobe University in Victoria, Australia.
Other beverages also help us meet the body's fluid needs, say nutrition specialists. (Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)
"Humans need to maintain fluid balance and need to drink water when required, but should also consider fluid in unprocessed fruits and vegetables and juices. There is further evidence that water and a well-balanced diet does far more than water alone," Tsindos wrote.

"Water is important for health; however, the recommendation of eight glasses of pure water per day appears an overestimation of requirements."

Even a baked potato is 75 per cent water, said nutrition Prof. Susan Barr of the University of British Columbia, who sat on a Canadian-U.S. committee that looked at fluid intake.

"There's nothing magical about water from a glass of water as opposed to water from a food or any other beverage," Barr said.

Drinking caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee do not lead to dehydration, said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a nephrologist at the University of Pennsylvania who reviewed research claims on drinking eight glasses of water and studied how the kidneys handle it.

Let thirst guide you

"Drinking the coffee will count towards your total water intake for the day," Goldfarb said.

Goldfarb said despite the common idea that it's important to "drink eight glasses of eight ounces of water" a day, "There’s no evidence that benefits health in any real way and it really represents an urban myth."

There's no evidence you need to drink more water than what thirst dictates, Goldfarb added.

Studies on desert nomads showed people can consume minimal amounts of water in harsh environments. The military has also looked at how much water soldiers need to take with them when patrolling in hot climates without harming their performance.

"If one is just playing a game of tennis in an indoor facility, for example, or having a short run on a treadmill in an air-conditioned gym, the need to maintain hydration during that is just non-existent," Goldfarb advised.

People have died of dehydration and from drinking too much water too quickly.

A good guide to tell if the body’s finely tuned fluid balance is to check the colour of your urine. If it's very dark, you're on the dry side; if it's very light or translucent, then you need to drink a bit less water, said Dr. David Price, head of family medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

GabyBaby916

I was HORRIBLE for the longest time about getting my water in. I dont mind plain water, but it wasn't my go-to drink either (preferring iced tea or hot teas).

In my efforts to drop some weight and live a generally healthier lifestyle, I try to drink at LEAST half my body weight in ounces each day (ie. if you weigh 150lbs, you'd drink a minimum of 75oz of water).

I'm a very visual person, so what I started doing a few months ago was filling two 34-oz water bottles and putting them on my desk.
I had to finish one bottle before lunch and the other before I went home at the end of the day. I also keep one more bottle on my desk at home, so that I always get at least 100oz of water per day.
I would pour into a cup and constantly sip (or gulp, lol). I take in a LOT more water this way.

If you really need something in the water, try a mix of lemon and lime juice (just a splash of each).

Enjoy!

LibertyBelle89

i add crystal light to my water & it helps me get my 8 glasses in.... ive gotten to where lately i actually like the taste of plain water & i dont have to add anything to it tho