H2Oh dear
Replies
-
They didn't. This whole, must carry water everywhere and drink constantly thing is a totally modern American concept that's about 20 years old. Before that, people pretty much drank at home, or at bars/restaurants. Maybe the office if the office had water. If we needed to carry water around with us constantly to stave off dying of dehydration we never would've survived as a species. Hell, if we NEEDED to drink water and only water we never would've made it out of the 1600s, as sanitation was so bad that no water in urban areas was clean, so the population subsisted on beer, as the alcohol killed the bacteria and made it safe to drink.Maybe the cavemen had access to water all day long. However, I find that I'm usually running around during the day and, if I didn't carry a water bottle on school days, I wouldn't be drinking between 9 am - 6 pm except from a water fountain - and water fountains suck. Also, I use my 24 oz. water bottle at home because I don't have to fill it up as often as other glasses and it has a lid so I don't need to worry about spilling it on my laptop.
Funny how the human race didn't die out of dehydration while drinking almost no plain water. Kinda makes this whole water obsession rather silly, especially when taking into account the millions of people in third world countries who don't have access to water at all, as we literally waste gallons of the stuff every day.0 -
People are not dehydrated. Americans consume more fluid today than at anytime in history, based on historical research. This "everyone is dehydrated" thing came directly from a Gatorade marketing campaign, where they trumpeted a "study" showing 75% of people were dehydrated. The part they left out of this "study" was that it was conducted on people at the gym who just finished a 60 minute workout, before they had anything to drink. It was 100% advertising, 0% science.In response to the cavemen didn't have water bottles.
I understand your sentiment however cavemen were not eating processed foods, except maybe the occassional stop at the local fast food drive through.
I think some people need more/less water than others but I also think most people in this country are walking around dehydrated for one reason or another. I would bet that half of the time someone is suffering from headache, fatigue etc. they just need to increase water intake for a few days.
But if you stick to a strict whole foods only diet you may not need so much water. I eat only whole foods. Nothing at all that is processed and I couldn't imagine starting the morning without a pint of water first thing.
As for the original question. at some point I got in the habbit of that pint of water in the morning and now it is second nature. Try a smaller amount to start if that is too drastic for you. Good luck.0 -
Help!
My new years resolution is to drink more water. So far I am sucking at it. I don't track it but on average I get in maybe 4-5 glasses a day on a good day.
How do you get down enough water?
Thanks!
Rachael
That actually *is* enough water ...0 -
as far as I am concerned, if it is liquid and non-alcoholic, it counts as water!
At the risk of TMI, I don't log my intake. I just set a goal to have clear pee by the early evening. If it is clear, I drank enough water, obviously. (and I never drink plain water!)0 -
you can buy a sharpie and measure out your liquid and mark it off on the bottle.... that may help you. i want to know where to get these spill proof one hand to operate contigo bottles.... my bottles always leak....I have a Contigo too and it is great. Just sucks that mine doesnt have any measurements on it0 -
Easy to do. A pint = 2 glasses
1 pint before I go for a run in the morning
Another pint when I get back, to have with my breakfast
A pint of water in work in the morning
A pint in the afternoon
A pint when I get back home with my dinner
That makes 10 glasses...where's the problem?0 -
#1 tip: get a container that's the size of your minimum water goal for the day. Fill it up each day and set it on your desk at work (or somewhere you see regularly if you don't work at a desk). Make your goal to finish that before leaving work and you'll be set for the day... even if you dont' drink any more!
I want to echo a couple other points too: get a water bottle for sipping that is 20 ounces or so. Fill this bottle up with your big one to make the portions more managable and think of the big jug as a guage for the day.
Crystal light really helps me out on days when I'm struggling to finish my water quota. I try not to use it all the time because of the sugar alcohols but if you're not watching your carbs/chemicals this shouldn't be an issue for you.
Try to have a few gulps of water before you do anything. Need to pee? (If you don't yet... you will!) Have some extra water on the way to the bathroom. Need to run to the copier? Grab a sip before you leave. Need to make a phone call? Grab a sip before dialing.
Good luck and drink up!0 -
I don't carry a bottle everywhere with me, but I do drink water at every meal (ever since I gave up soda).
I have a 32oz water bottle at work, mostly because I'm a klutz and I don't want to get water all over my desk and keyboard (I've ruined two that way already, thank you very much). When I first get to the office, I fill it with water and ice, try to make sure I finish half of it by 10am-ish, the other half by noon. Refill, then have half with lunch, and the last half washing down my meds and supplements.
64oz there.
Note that I said *TRY*. Some days I get so caught up in stuff that I realize I haven't had nearly that much, so I try to drink more at dinner.0 -
A glass before every single meal and a glass with meals. It also helps you eat less...I felt like I was going to blow up after eating a three ounce pork chop yesterday. That's almost exactly how I've lost most of my weight - drinking water before meals!0
-
Oh I totally relate to the freezing office, and when I drink a ton of water I get so much colder!
I'm lucky in that I'm constantly thirsty and drinking something, but unlucky in that I'm completely addicted to Diet Coke and my office provides unlimited free soda and coffee. Making the decision to walk past the soda cooler to fill up my water bottle is a conscious one each and every time! I detoxed when I had time off over the holidays and now have been averaging one soda and 12 glasses of water a day! Woot!0 -
Ok you win tiger. I am going to stop drinking water.0
-
I have a gallon pitcher I keep at work, fill it in the morning and hammer it for 8 hours! Get a gallon in everyday
0 -
Being on this site you learn exactly what other items that diet pepsi is putting into your body. I was a Dr. Pepper'holic however realizing the negatives that it was putting in and how much I was wasting my numbers on them one day I just stopped. It was hard, but definitely possible. Just cut down by one diet pepsi a day. Eventually limit yourself to only one. Then one day the craving will stop and water will actually taste pretty good.0
-
I make sure to get AT LEAST 3 liters of water a day and I usually end up getting at least 4 and sometimes 5! My trick is that I buy the "fizzy waters" at the grocery store. They are liter bottles and come in all different flavors and because it is just carbinated water with flavoring, there is no added anything to it. You can find them at Walmart, Raleys/Bel Air, Safeway, etc. They are labeled as a "sparking water beverage". I save the bottle and be sure to fill it up at least 2 more times during the day. When I dont want something fizzy and I dont want plain water I will fill the bottle and add Crystal Light to it (I put 2 of the on-the-go packets in the liter bottle) and its a great way for me to get that next liter down. I hope this helps you! Good luck!
This is what I do. The fizzy flavored waters are great when you crave soda. Some are better than others so try a few and see what you like. I keep a pitcher of crystal light in the fidge. It's only 5 cal per serving. My other reminder or trick is to make myself drink an entire tall glass of water before I put any food in my mouth so before all meals and snacks. Working out helps too because it makes you thirsty!0 -
Loads of tea.
Get lots of different flavours to keep it interesting!0 -
you can buy a sharpie and measure out your liquid and mark it off on the bottle.... that may help you. i want to know where to get these spill proof one hand to operate contigo bottles.... my bottles always leak....I have a Contigo too and it is great. Just sucks that mine doesnt have any measurements on it
I got mine at Costco. They sell them in packs of three. Cant remember how much they are though.0 -
I recently started to up my intake of water. As I work in a freezing office area, I would not naturally feel thirsty. It takes conscious effort for me to be aware to drink my minimum 8 glasses of water. So I have made a plan just as if I have made a food diet plan....it's just a water diet. This is my plan that works thus far, really simple, and because I'm conscious that I failed before to drink enough water, I mostly remember to stick to my plan.
2 (8oz) glasses in the morning before anything else
On my way to work, manage to sip about 1/2 glass (By the time I reach to work, it's to the washroom obviously)
Before I have breakfast at my desk, I have another glass
About 10am another glass.
Before I eat lunch, another glass.
By about 2pm I've sipped up to another glass
Before dinner, another
I make it a MUST to have one last glass right before bedtime
To add to this: I make sure to drink some water before and during exercise.
I've been doing this for just over two weeks, and I must say that drinking water is becoming a part of me. There's less effort to remember now and I'm not minding the numerous trips to the bathroom. So perhaps you can make a water diet plan...heehee.0 -
Don't worry if your not drinking as much as "they" say you need. "They" aren't you. Your body will tell you if it needs more water. If you're drinking 4-5 glasses, then you're probably getting the recomended intake anyway, since you have water in some of your food, and the water in your other drinks does count, too. I have no problem drinking plain water. I drink quite a bit before meals to help me feel fuller. But since I used to have a serious soda addiction, I still crave something carbonated every once in a while. I find the flavored sparkling waters sold by Dollar General are my favorite. The peach is the best one to me.0
-
Just remember that all your liquids count toward your fluid intake, not just water. Coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk, etc.0
-
Being on this site you learn exactly what other items that diet pepsi is putting into your body. I was a Dr. Pepper'holic however realizing the negatives that it was putting in and how much I was wasting my numbers on them one day I just stopped. It was hard, but definitely possible. Just cut down by one diet pepsi a day. Eventually limit yourself to only one. Then one day the craving will stop and water will actually taste pretty good.
Really? Some caffeine, some artificial sweetener (that has been proven to be safe by countless studies), some food coloring. Flavoring. Oh yeah, sounds horrendous!! Actually, I don't think Dr. Pepper has any caffeine in it.0 -
How do you get down enough water?
Thanks!
Rachael
I have a 59 oz water bottle I found at Garden Ridge.
I fiil it up in the morning( M-F work week finish it before leaving work)
16 oz at dinner.
Weekends (Sat & Sun) I fill up; finish it before 6pm
16 oz before bed.
Approx total each day 9.33 glasses (75 ounces)0 -
Hot and warm water count too - I've started alternating my mug of coffee with a mug of plain water from the kettle when I'm at work0
-
Coffee also counts. So does tea. So does essentially anything that isn't saltwater or higher than 80 proof.Hot and warm water count too - I've started alternating my mug of coffee with a mug of plain water from the kettle when I'm at work0 -
It's all liquid - but I do drink more without twitching at my desk if I add in a few plain waters between the black stuff!0
-
My own general rule is two cups of water down before first cup of coffee. If I start drinking coffee right away, I'll nurse that sucker all morning and by noon, coffee is gone and I haven't had any straight water.
Helps me out.
This! For me it's a diet pepsi but I can make that thing last all day! Thanks! Great tip.
Me two.. you should see me gulping that water so I can hurry up and enjoy my coffee.0 -
I use a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle filled with tap water that goes with me everywhere. I aim to drink 2 Litres per day (2-3 bottles) and anything more than that is a bonus. On days where I forget my bottle, I fall quite short of drinking my usual amount. I get headaches and feel groggy. I believe the water bottle is the key to success for drinking enough! Cups don't work. You'd have to fill it up too often. Good luck.0
-
Growing up I was constantly dehydrated. I simply did not like drinking water nor did I really drink anything with my meals. I always assumed I was hungry instead of thirsty. I don't really sweat either....I've been a golfer and basketball player and even after intense meets (I'm talking 95 degree August weather walking 18 holes and carrying my 35 pounds of clubs), I would barely have any sweat on me. Since I've been getting more serious about losing weight, I also bought a Contigo water bottle (32 oz.) and fill it up at home often. I taught myself to drink more by using the miO drink flavorings and was able to wean myself off needing flavor when I drink water because I finally drank 8+ cups a day. Now I take my water bottle with me everywhere! I quit drinking soda in May of last year and don't really crave it that often. I drink coffee and lots of tea as well. I take several tea bags and make orange decaf black tea and keep it in my fridge. I have a 32 oz plastic cup like you get at gas stations and use that only for my tea. I can drink water now like it's my job! Still don't sweat too much though. It will take awhile but you do get used to drinking that much! Drinking more water has also helped me quit snacking at my job as a cake decorator. 0
-
Dr. Pepper has caffeine.Being on this site you learn exactly what other items that diet pepsi is putting into your body. I was a Dr. Pepper'holic however realizing the negatives that it was putting in and how much I was wasting my numbers on them one day I just stopped. It was hard, but definitely possible. Just cut down by one diet pepsi a day. Eventually limit yourself to only one. Then one day the craving will stop and water will actually taste pretty good.
Really? Some caffeine, some artificial sweetener (that has been proven to be safe by countless studies), some food coloring. Flavoring. Oh yeah, sounds horrendous!! Actually, I don't think Dr. Pepper has any caffeine in it.0 -
Trust me....Dr. Pepper has caffeine. If it didn't, I wouldn't waste my calories drinking it.
0 -
Doesn't work that way for everyone.
Coffee also counts. So does tea. So does essentially anything that isn't saltwater or higher than 80 proof.Hot and warm water count too - I've started alternating my mug of coffee with a mug of plain water from the kettle when I'm at work0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions