Drinking water........Not easy for me

I agree that 64 oz/day for all is a myth. Listen to your thirst levels. Tea counts. Obviously, if you're trying to lose weight, caloric sweeteners aren't a good idea. You don't have to be one of those all-day-sippers. Chug a small glass at mealtime, or stick to teas.

I read an intuitive eating book that actually advised AGAINST carrying around a water bottle and sipping all day. She likened Americans to babies with their constant sipping and snacking. When you think about it, we didn't do this 40 years ago. Cars didn't have cupholders. Coffee came from a pot at home. Soda came in 8 oz. cups. A business meeting wasn't an occasion for bagels or sandwiches. Her point was if you learn that you don't need mouth stimulation/activity all day, it can be easier to focus on our body's true signals for food and water.

Lol! Babies with their sippie cups! You own tips made sense to me and are reasonable, but, you lost me with the "intuitive eating" book. The only thing you said she described that makes sense to me is to focus on our body's true signals for food and water. If you did that her cart (mouth stimulation) would go behind her horse (body's true signals).

Of course, I disagree with the author's comment.
I carry a nalgene bottle of water so that I have water close by for when I need it:
1) to keep me from going after juices and sodas,
2) from paying for overpriced waters in a bottle when away from home,
3) because I think water (or liquids) in plastic bottles are excessively consumed- I like to contribute to clean environments although I'm not a diehard.
4) no need to be lazy to get up and pour a glass of water when my bottle is right there.
5) My body's "true signal" for water is thirst. When I'm thirsty, I drink my water

So, if anything I have better control over what I drink and the choices I have to drink - all day. It is not a habit for everyone for everyone should do what works best for them.

Also, 40 years ago, our American society was not bombarded with advertisements for sodas, juices, and energy drinks; which are cleverly and effectively designed to get us to buy, buy, buy. And, these same manufactures saw a gold mind in bottle water and did the same. Also, fast food restaurants and drive thru windows were not on almost every main city block for easy access to those that wanted to take their food and sodas with them, hence the bright idea for cup holders. Coffee shops did exist, in fact people called them "coffee shops". You could get coffee in just about any restaurant so far back the cost was a nickle. Doughnuts shops existed (coffee and doughnuts) then, too.