I need to drink more water-- help!

HeavyLiftGirl
HeavyLiftGirl Posts: 1,267 Member
in Food and Nutrition
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had an aversion to water. I would drink it plain and it made me queasy.
Well...here I am almost a year since her birth, and I still sometimes get that feeling. I tried drinking VitaminWater Zero to have something with flavor, but I still don't always finish a full bottle.

How do you manage to get your 8 glasses a day? Any tips/tricks/suggestion you are willing to share?

TIA!
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Replies

  • TinaBean007
    TinaBean007 Posts: 273 Member
    Something simple works for me: a straw. I don't know why but I drink more water.

    Although when I get bored, I add fruit: usually frozen: lemon, lime, organges, raspberries, strawberries. Also the occasional cucumber.
  • adrushe
    adrushe Posts: 25
    I am really picky with water, too. I don't like tap (city) water. I only like well water or filtered water. I also don't like room temperature water. Only cold. So I often drink water with lots of ice in it. If I go out to a restaurant I'll get water with lemon in it to mask the gross additives that city water contains (floride, chlorine, etc). Also I like to add lime, cucumber, etc to water to make it a bit tastier. Hope that helps.
  • staceymae19
    staceymae19 Posts: 63
    yeah a straw always worked for me too
  • mhuch110
    mhuch110 Posts: 130 Member
    I carry around one of those big, heavy plastic cups with a lid and straw. It's a 24 oz cup. I usually add a sclice of lemon or some frozen berries like someone else suggested. This thing is attached to my hip. I take it everywhere and just sip all day long. Before I know it I have to refill....and with lots of ice. I can't drink it unless it's ice cold!
  • smess2
    smess2 Posts: 1
    I keep a cup at my desk at work. Whenever it empties, I refill it. It sounds simple but I easily drink 6-8 cups a day.
  • slliwlt
    slliwlt Posts: 68 Member
    I was always teased for having a tiny bladder (seriously-I have to pee ALL THE TIME!) So-I started avoiding drinking anything. Then the bladder infections started.... one after another after another! ugh! I now carry my camelback water bottle with me everywhere! I force myself to drink 2 big jugs full per day. Occasionally I will add a crystal light packet, or a sustain packet when I am exercising-(I add them to more water than they recommend -they are too sweet for me if I go by directions) but generally it's just plain water. Good luck!
  • rhiannamk
    rhiannamk Posts: 5
    I typically drink a glass before each meal. I also use a water bottle to sip water throughout the day. Do you notice a difference if you drink a whole glass (6-8oz) compared to just sips? Drinking it at different temperatures? Maybe hot tea? I also drink carbonated water sometimes. I add the True Lemon packets. I've seen many ideas for flavored water with fresh fruits, like berries, citrus, melon, herbs. Mainly I just know it's good for me and make myself drink it! I always order water when out too.
  • hkevans724
    hkevans724 Posts: 241 Member
    Crystal light! only 10 calories per packet, i have a 32 oz bottle that i put one pack in because the flavors i like are too strong for a tiny little bottle to me...
  • thetrishwarp
    thetrishwarp Posts: 838 Member
    I just making myself drink one cup during every hour I'm at my desk at work. Works out to 8 cups :)

    I don't have any tips or tricks....I just drink it!
  • tocara
    tocara Posts: 81 Member
    Something simple works for me: a straw. I don't know why but I drink more water.

    Although when I get bored, I add fruit: usually frozen: lemon, lime, organges, raspberries, strawberries. Also the occasional cucumber.

    i love straws too!
    a squirt of lemon juice is my favourite addition.
    I always make sure to have my water bottle with my in my car. for some reason, i tend to get thirsty when driving.. and can sometimes drink 1-2 cups just during my commute.
  • mcpherson4
    mcpherson4 Posts: 287 Member
    straws work. And bottled water. One bottle of nestle is equal to 2 cups. You can do it. Add a little crystal light if you need it. :)
  • reree6898
    reree6898 Posts: 42 Member
    I am drinking about a gallon of water each day. There are times when I too get that queasy feeling from drinking water. I have found that when I am sick of plain water the Mio water enhancers have really helped me. I tend to buy the store brand ones because they are less expensive, but they taste really good and they have no calories and they do not use nutrasweet. They use a splenda version of a sweetner.
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    For some reason I drink more from water bottles than a glass. I also throw a slice of lemon in them in the morning(or night before) and let them sit for a bit. It gives me a flavor change without using fake sweeteners.
  • nrd2212
    nrd2212 Posts: 128
    I drink close to a gallon a day as well. I keep my water bottle filled and next to me all the time. I used to drink the walmart flavored carbonated waters, but I've gotten to like plain water better. Make it a habit and it'll get easier
  • junejadesky
    junejadesky Posts: 524 Member
    Straw is a great idea! Also try lemon and cucumber together in water... we call it "spa" water because it's like what you get at the spa... LOL

    It is really refreshing!
  • BowTieBaby
    BowTieBaby Posts: 8
    I hate water, I always have. I get the queasy feeling quite frequently when I drink it plain. So to help, I use one of the large, double-walled, hard plastic cups with the straw and add a Target brand water mix (Comparable to Crystal Light). The mix certainly helps! I try to get through 4 of them during my 8 hours at work.
  • caraguard
    caraguard Posts: 41
    Something simple works for me: a straw. I don't know why but I drink more water.

    Although when I get bored, I add fruit: usually frozen: lemon, lime, organges, raspberries, strawberries. Also the occasional cucumber.

    I second this!! Also, do you use a filter at home? Might make your tap water taste better to you.
  • kwest_4_fitness
    kwest_4_fitness Posts: 820 Member
    Cucumbers, watermelon, and iceberg lettuce are just a few foods that are water dense and calorie light. Try these to help increase your water intake. All water is not created equal and doesn't always have to come in a glass. Cheers!
  • cersela
    cersela Posts: 160 Member
    I have a 20oz water bottle, I try and drink it twice when I first wake up (I usually just chug it), then I have it on my desk all day, usually fill it up a few times, then I try have a water with every meal and snack, and carry a bottle with me when I go for a walk or to the gym.

    I used to drink soda because it was so convenient to have a cold can, so I started keeping a whole case of bottled water in the fridge, so I could just have a bottle water whenever I wanted one, eventually I got into the habit so I switched to a reusable glass one (it tastes better than in plastic anyway) but I still carry disposables with me when I don't feel like worrying about keeping up with my bottle. I only drink reverse osmosis or distilled water (mainly because it tastes better, and it's much better cold), (unfiltered) tap water tastes horrible to me, I do use tap water when I make tea and it's fine.
  • AlmstHvn
    AlmstHvn Posts: 376 Member
    I used to never drink water. Ever. Diet Coke, tea, milk, juice - but no water. I think when I started exercising, my body just naturally craves it - or maybe I just pay more attention to it now than I used to - it probably always craved it, I just kept giving it something else!

    My secret - I keep water bottles everywhere! I have 1 on my desk at work, 1 I take everywhere (car, gym, even church), 1 on my nightstand. I have Contigo brand, which makes a fun "POP" sound whenever you release the seal and you can chug or sip as you like.

    My daughter decorates my workout bottle with stickers - she gives me a new sticker for every 10 lbs I lose. It's qutie motivating to see, too!
  • hammie1986
    hammie1986 Posts: 7 Member
    I found that a water cup with a straw worked wonders. I would just sit at my desk and sip and sip and then I'd have to refill every other hour. I can't wait to add cucumber to my water and try that. Thanks for the tips!
  • HeavyLiftGirl
    HeavyLiftGirl Posts: 1,267 Member
    Thank you everyone for your ideas!

    I will definitely try adding a piece of fresh fruit. I do notice I tend to drink more if a slice of lemon is in it, but I never considered berries. Good suggestion!

    I also have a plastic carry cup at my desk that has a straw, so I will try that today and see what happens.

    I do like tea, but only tea with tons of sugar in it, so I am trying to avoid that route.

    Thanks, again.
  • whitejessamine
    whitejessamine Posts: 166
    When eating, try taking a mouthful of water after every bite. It might seem tedious at first, but it'll become a habit soon...you'll be surprised how much you can drink that way.
  • therfc
    therfc Posts: 11
    There was a time when I has having severe bouts of nausea and almost everything, including water, would elicit an violent up chuck episode. I found that carbonated water with and without flavoring, helped me keep hydrated. So when I do feel my stomach is in revolution mode, poland springs carbonated spring water, perrier and TJ's carbonated water all helped. To keep my costs down I would buy cases at BJ's wholesale (like Costco and Sam's club) and stock up when there were coupons for water.

    Alternatively start including more high water fruits and veggies into your diet to help with hydration.

    Good luck!
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Something simple works for me: a straw. I don't know why but I drink more water.

    Me too! Actually I have one of those cool cups that have a hard straw and keeps the water cool. Another trick I do is just add a small amount of Crystal Light to my huge glass of water, not enough to matter but enough to give it a little bit of flavor.
  • 3LittleMonkeyMom
    3LittleMonkeyMom Posts: 259
    Straws worked for me in the beginning. I HATED water.

    It took me awhile to break the diet soda and tea habit, but once I did, I didn't look back.

    I've gotten to where I crave water. It has to be ice cold though. I can't do luke warm. :)

    Good luck to you!
  • msudaisy28
    msudaisy28 Posts: 267 Member
    I drink a ton more water when I'm drinking out of my nalgene bottle. It makes a big enough difference that I started using them at home on the weekends as well as while at work. I also always order a glass of water when I'm out to eat, even if I'm getting another beverage too. Once in a while I'll make a pitcher of Crystal Light at home just to mix it up a little, but I've found over the years that the more water I drink the more my body craves!
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    I never was a water fan but what I do is I drink 16 ounces with breakfast then at 10:30 I down another and again around 3:30. I just make myself drink it fairly fast. If you just drink it up and get it over with it ain't so bad lol.
  • octleigh
    octleigh Posts: 86 Member
    I am at home with my kids most days so I found that if I put a bottle of water in the bathroom, laundry room, etc and I drink from it every time I go into that room, I usually get 4-6 glasses that way with little effort. Then i try to drink a glass or two with meals. Also crystal light has a new flavored packet with no artificial sweeteners. It is made with truvia. It says to mix it with 16 oz but I mix it with 64 just to give the water a hint of flavor. Works great for me. Fresh lemon, strawberries, and even cucumber do a nice job adding flavor. Good luck!!
  • lindalou4850
    lindalou4850 Posts: 217 Member
    I buy the splash flavored water from walmart. Zero everything!! It comes in many different flavors. I mix 3/4 flavored with 1/4 tap water to stretch it a little and you still get the flavor!
    I too have to pee alot but I still drink at least 8 glasses a day.

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